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The easiest last-minute meal, Dorito casserole melds layers of crispy chips with loads of melted cheese, spicy ground beef, and a cream soup-based filling. Don’t skip the toppings!
This Dorito casserole is not fancy food, but it is really good food! It’s one of those recipes you throw together when you forget to do grocery shopping but have Doritos in the pantry, ground beef in the fridge, and a can of chicken soup hanging out on the counter. How to put them all together to create something delicious? Make Dorito casserole! Like steak nachos or sheet pan totchos, this recipe is easy, hearty, and super cheesy!
Why You’ll Love This Dorito Casserole
- Easy. Just brown some ground beef, mix up the filling, layer your casserole, and bake.
- Flavorful. This is essentially a taco casserole made with Doritos. The ground beef filling is creamy and full of classic taco flavors, while the Dorito chips are crunchy like a taco shell.
- Hearty. This dinner idea is super filling thanks to the ground beef, cream of chicken soup, and cheese.
- Flexible. This dorito casserole recipe can be made with a variety of mix-ins to suit your preferences. You can even make a chicken variation of this casserole.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need, along with my notes on swaps and substitutions to make this dorito casserole asap. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable ingredient list.
- Yellow onion – Swap in white onion if that’s what you have on hand.
- Fresh Garlic – Mince the garlic cloves to release their full flavor. If you want to use garlic powder, I suggest stirring in about 1/2 teaspoon of it.
- Ground beef – I like to use lean meat. You could also use ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Taco seasoning – Store-bought or homemade taco seasoning are okay to use.
- Salsa – Use your favorite brand. I like Newman’s Own.
- Cream of chicken soup – For a creamy base, use 1 can of chicken soup.
- Sour cream – You could also use plain Greek yogurt.
- Shredded cheese – I used half white cheddar and half sharp cheddar. A Mexican blend also works.
- Nacho Cheese Doritos – You can also try it with regular or spicy Doritos, depending on what you prefer.
- Garnishes for serving – Chopped green onions, chopped fresh cilantro and halved cherry tomatoes.
Variation Ideas
- Chips. Use your favorite tortilla chips in place of the Doritos. I personally like Mi Nina tortilla chips.
- Add heat. You can add 1-2 seeded and diced jalapenos to the step where the garlic is cooked.
- Protein. You can use lean ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef, or you can use shredded chicken as outlined below. You can also add one 15-oz can of drained and rinsed black beans along with the meat.
- Veggies. Add a finely diced red bell pepper or a small can of drained corn niblets to the step where the salsa is added.
- Toppings. Serve this taco casserole with your favorite taco toppings, such as more salsa, dollops of sour cream, or even shredded lettuce on top.
- No taco seasoning? If you don’t have a packet of taco seasoning in the pantry, you can make your own. Try my DIY taco seasoning which is so easy and good!
Storing and Reheating Extras
I don’t recommend freezing the casserole because the texture of the chips will change when defrosted and reheated, but you can save any extras in the fridge to enjoy another time.
- Fridge – Let your Doritos casserole cool to room temperature, then cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also cut the casserole into slices and store extras in airtight containers in the fridge.
- To Reheat – When you’re ready to dig into your leftovers, simply scoop your desired amount onto a microwave-safe plate and zap until warmed through. This will take about 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on your serving size.
More Casserole Recipes
- Hashbrown Casserole
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Mexican Lasagna
- Creamy Chicken Casserole
- Gnocchi and Bacon Casserole
Dorito Casserole
An easy last-minute meal, Dorito casserole melds layers of crispy chips with loads of melted cheese, spicy ground beef, and a cream soup-based filling.
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 1 package taco seasoning, 1 ounce
- 1 cup salsa, I like Newman’s Own
- 10.5 ounces can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheese, I used half white cheddar and half sharp cheddar
- 1 bag (9.75 ounces) Nacho Cheese Doritos
- Garnishes for serving: chopped green onions, chopped fresh cilantro and halved cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Prep your tools. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray, like PAM.
- Cook the meat. Add ground beef and onion to a large skillet over medium heat. Stir and using a wooden spoon, break it into pieces. Cook until browned. Drain the fat.
- Add flavorings. Add garlic to the ground beef and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the taco seasoning and salsa to the ground beef mixture. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook while stirring until well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Make the meat mixture. Remove the ground beef from the heat and stir in the cream of chicken soup and sour cream.
- Assemble the casserole. Place 1/3 of the crushed Doritos in the bottom of the baking dish. Cover with 1/2 of the meat mixture and 1/3 of the shredded cheese. Repeat with another layer of chips, meat and cheese. Then finish with a final layer of chips and cheese on top.
- Bake. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted on top.
- Finish and serve. Remove the Dorito casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes on the counter. Top with diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro or any other taco toppings of your choice, and serve.
Equipment
Nutrition
Serving: 12ounces | Calories: 605kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1629mg | Potassium: 607mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1233IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 322mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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How to Make a Dorito Casserole
- Prep your tools. Preheat your oven to 350F and lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with PAM.
- Make the ground beef filling. Cook the beef with seasonings and tomatoes.
- Add Sour Cream and Soup. Stir in the cream of chicken soup and sour cream.
- Assemble the Casserole. Add a layer of crushed Doritos to the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Add layers and finish with a final layer of chips and cheese on top.
- Bake. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted on top.
- Garnish. Remove from the oven and top with diced tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, or any other taco toppings of your choice. Serve it with avocado salsa or a creamy cucumber salad.
