Doritos Casserole

Sure, you love Doritos—who doesn’t? But when you combine those seasoned, crispy chips with ground beef, beans and cheese, you get so much more than just a beloved bagged snack. It’s an entire meal. Consider this Doritos casserole recipe as a cousin to nachos: You start with a layer of the flavor-packed chips, top them with a savory meat mixture made with black beans, tomatoes, chiles and sour cream, sprinkle on some shredded cheese, then repeat the layers. Bake the Doritos casserole until the cheese is melty and bubbly, and serve it with your favorite toppings like creamy avocado, sliced jalapenos and more sour cream.

This family-friendly casserole recipe comes together in less than 45 minutes and will please even the pickiest eaters in your family. It’ll become a staple for weeknight dinners and game days, and is perfect for any time you need to whip up a crowd-pleasing meal.

Doritos Casserole Ingredients

• Ground beef: Ground beef is the casserole’s foundation, and it makes the dish hearty enough to serve as an entree.
• Red bell pepper and onion: Chopped red bell peppers and onion bring notes of sweetness to the ground beef mixture.
• Taco seasoning: Store-bought or homemade taco seasoning—a flavor-packed combination of chili powder, dried onion, ground cumin, cayenne pepper and many other spices often used in Mexican food—gives the casserole tons of flavor. The flour in our taco seasoning also helps it bind to the ground beef.
• Black beans: Black beans add more depth and protein to the ground beef mixture. Make sure to rinse and drain them well before adding to the pan.
• Diced tomatoes and green chiles: Tomatoes with chiles give the casserole notes of brightness and acid, contrasting nicely with the richness of the ground beef and beans. If you only have diced tomatoes, that works, or use a can of diced tomatoes and a can of green chiles.
• Sour cream: This condiment adds creaminess and a touch of tanginess to the ground beef mixture.
• Doritos: Choose your favorite Doritos flavor to layer into the casserole, such as Taco, Nacho Verde, Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese. Off-brand Doritos work, too!
• Cheese: Shredded cheddar bakes on top of the casserole. If you prefer another type of good melting cheese, such as Monterey Jack or mozzarella, feel free to use it instead.
• Optional toppings: Sliced or cubed avocado, salsa, sliced jalapenos and additional sour cream are all great additions to the casserole and give the finished dish pops of freshness.

Directions

Step 1: Make the ground beef mixture

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, red pepper and onion over medium heat until the beef is browned, seven to eight minutes.

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Stir in the taco seasoning, black beans and diced tomatoes. Let everything simmer until they’ve thickened, one to two minutes.

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Remove the skillet from the heat and add sour cream until it’s well combined with the other ingredients.

Step 2: Layer the casserole

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In a greased 13×9-inch baking dish, layer half of the Doritos, half of the meat mixture and 1-1/2 cups of cheddar. Repeat the layers.

Step 3: Bake the casserole

Bake until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. If desired, top servings of the casserole with avocado, salsa, jalapenos and additional sour cream.

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Doritos Casserole Variations

• Use a different protein: If desired, swap out the beef and use ground turkey or bison for this recipe. You can also try making a Doritos chicken casserole.
• Make it meatless: Nix the ground beef entirely and add extra beans to turn it into a vegetarian Doritos casserole.
• Get creative with serving: Assemble a toppings bar with cubed avocado, different salsas, sour cream, chopped cilantro and other accompaniments for guests to use as a topping for their portions of Doritos casserole.
• Spice things up: Dice some pickled or fresh jalapenos and add them to the ground beef mixture, or give it a shake of some of your favorite hot sauce.

How to Store Doritos Casserole

To store your taco casserole with Doritos, be sure to first cool it to room temperature, then cover the dish tightly with foil or storage wrap and before putting it in the refrigerator. You can also transfer smaller portions to airtight containers.

How long does a Doritos casserole last?

When properly stored in the refrigerator, Doritos casserole will keep for up to four days. The layers may get soggy, though, so it’s best consumed as soon as possible. If stored in the freezer, it can last for up to three months.

Can you freeze a Doritos casserole?

Yes! To freeze Doritos casserole, make it as directed, but don’t bake it. To prevent freezer burn, wrap the dish tightly in storage wrap and then foil. When you’re ready to bake and eat it, thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight.

How do you reheat Doritos casserole?

To reheat individual portions of the Doritos casserole, microwave them for two to three minutes. To reheat the entire casserole, preheat your oven to 350° and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes or until it’s heated through.

Doritos Casserole Tips

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What can you serve with Doritos casserole?

Make this Doritos casserole recipe with a light Mexican side dish (or two). To build a feast, cook up some cilantro-lime rice, pico de Gallo or a Mexican street corn bake. And if you want to go all out, fry up some churros or sopaipillas for a sweet finale.

What’s a good substitute for Doritos in the taco casserole?

Not a fan of Doritos? No problem! Any tortilla chip will work in the recipe.

What else can I cook with Doritos?

Try making a batch of Doritos chicken tenders. You can also use them in place of tortilla chips in taco salad.