This Doritos casserole is layered with ground beef, onions, and garlic in a creamy cheese sauce and Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips. It is then topped with Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese and baked to perfection. Then top with all your favorite taco toppings like chopped fresh cilantro, corn, chopped tomatoes, jalapeno rings, black olives, green onions, black beans, green chiles, and sour cream. It is all made from scratch without cream of chicken soup. My kids love this easy weeknight meal.
This is a hearty casserole recipe by itself, but if company is coming, I like to serve it with a Layered Taco Salad and Classic Bloody Mary Cocktails. It is always a hit with friends and family and a winning combination.
How to make Doritos Casserole
Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. After a few minutes of browning, add your onions. Then cook until the beef is browned, and the onions are tender. Now add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the ground beef mixture to a plate or grab another skillet. Then melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes while whisking. Now add the milk and chicken broth alternating between the two. Then reduce the heat to low and whisk in the taco seasoning and 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese. Continue whisking until melted and smooth. Now add the cooked hamburger mixture to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
Now slightly crush a couple of handfuls of chips and place them in the baking dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the chips and add another layer of crushed chips. Then spoon the rest of the meat mixture over the chips. Top with one more layer of crushed chips. Then sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese. Cover the casserole dish and bake for about 20 minutes. Then remove the cover and bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through. Garnish with chopped cilantro, diced tomatoes, and jalapeno rings. Serve with a heaping tablespoon of sour cream and salsa.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork are all great substitutions for ground beef.
- Use any kind of ripe tomatoes. I used the grape tomatoes because they are so sweet and bright red.
- If there is excess fat after browning your ground beef, drain it before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
- Pro Tip – don’t risk dropping the ground beef in the sink to drain the fat. Simply tilt the pan and use a paper towel to absorb the grease.
- For even more flavor, mix up my homemade taco seasoning.
- You can use any flavor of Doritos for this recipe, like Cool Ranch Doritos. However, I like the nacho cheese flavor best.
- If the cheese sauce becomes too thick, simply whisk in a couple of tablespoons of milk or chicken broth.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers wrapped in an aluminum foil tent in a 375-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through.
- I do not recommend freezing this casserole.
How to chop cilantro
Cilantro is sold in bunches. Keeping it in a bunch, wash it under cold water and shake gently to remove most of the water. Then gently dry with paper towels. Now cut the bulk of the leaves off the stem. Roll the leaves up in a bunch like a cigar and chop finely with a sharp knife. Chop only the cilantro that you will use in a couple of hours, as fresh herbs start to lose their flavor as soon as you cut them. If not used right away, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Other casserole dishes you will love!
Doritos Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ½ medium sweet onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 1 family-size bag of Doritos nacho cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 ½ cups sliced grape tomatoes
- 1 jalapeno sliced in rings
- sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 9x13 inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. After 3-4 minutes of browning, add your onions. Cook until the beef is browned, and the onions are tender. Drain any excess grease. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Plate the hamburger mixture.
- Melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes while whisking. Add the milk and chicken broth alternating between the two. Simmer until thickened. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the taco seasoning and 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese. Continue whisking until melted and smooth. Add the cooked hamburger mixture to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Slightly crush a couple of handfuls of chips and place them in the prepared casserole dish. Spoon half of the beef mixture over the chips and add another layer of crushed chips. Spoon the rest of the beef mixture over the chips. Top with one more layer of crushed chips. Sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese.
- Cover the casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for another 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through. Finally, top with chopped cilantro, sliced tomatoes, and jalapeno rings. Serve with a heaping tablespoon of sour cream.
Notes
- Ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork are all great substitutions for ground beef.
- Use any kind of ripe tomatoes. I used the grape tomatoes because they are so sweet and bright red.
- If there is excess fat after browning your ground beef, drain it before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
- Pro Tip – don’t risk dropping the ground beef in the sink to drain the fat. Simply tilt the pan and use a paper towel to absorb the grease.
- For even more flavor, mix up my homemade taco seasoning.
- You can use any flavor of Doritos for this recipe, like Cool Ranch Doritos. However, I like the nacho cheese flavor best.
- If the cheese sauce becomes too thick, simply whisk in a couple of tablespoons of milk or chicken broth.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers wrapped in an aluminum foil tent in a 375-degree oven for about 15 minutes or until heated through.
- I do not recommend freezing this casserole.
Nutrition
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dina and bruce miller
Growing up as last of 7 kids, we always had homemade, and rarely got store bought snacks. But when I got to pick, it was Doritos. So we just had to try this recipe, and we LOVED IT! This was gobbled up by all!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Dina and Bruce! So glad that everyone liked it!
dana
This was SO delicious! What a crowd pleaser. A few folks asked for the recipe, so I sent them on over!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dana! I appreciate the support!
rebecca
oh such a fun idea! love how easy this recipe is
Amy
My family absolutely loves this recipe! Sometimes we swap out the meat for ground chicken or turkey!
Beth Pierce
Great idea, Amy!
Jane
This is such a fun idea! We have a teen who is really loving what he calls Choas dishes (waffles made of fries, chips in everything, etc) and this would fit in so well with what he’s been wanting! Thank you for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome!
Fareeha Usman
Thank you for sharing this recipe. My kids loved it
Zab Zaria
What a delicious and easy recipe. We really enjoyed it and I will make it again!
Paula
I really enjoyed your casserole layered with ground beef, onions, and garlic in a creamy cheese sauce and Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips.
Claudia
Oh wow, this is our new favorite dinner. This is a winning recipe for my family.
Lavanda Michelle
My family loves a good Doritos casserole! As a fan of both comfort food and Doritos, this is a match made in heaven for me.
Fareeha Usman
Looks so Delicious. I must try this. My girl will love this
Alison Saalbach Corey
Your creativity in recipes is unmatched. You’re constantly creating wonderful recipes, and it’s truly impressive.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Alison!
Nathan
Using Doritos in a casserole is genius, I bet they add the perfect amount of crunch and cheesiness! Adding this to my list to try for dinner next week 🙂
Sandhya S
Doritos casserole was a fun and tasty twist! Our family devoured every cheesy, crunchy bite.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sandhya! I am happy to hear that the family enjoyed it!
Elizabeth
This casserole is amazing! Perfect for the next potluck I go to. The jalapenos give it a nice spicy kick!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Elizabeth! So glad that you liked the casserole!
Janeane Davis
I am not familiar with recipes using Doritos in this way. I would like to try this for my family to see what they think.
Fareeha Usman
Looks delicious I should try this
Erin
That looks so delicious and yummy. I will have to make it sometime soon!