This Low Calorie Doritos Taco Salad is a nostalgic family favorite perfect for any occasion. It's incredibly simple yet delicious. Juicy seasoned ground beef, crisp iceberg lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheddar are tossed with nacho cheese flavored Doritos, then dressed with bright and tangy Catalina dressing.
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Check out my Keto Broccoli Salad and my Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples. Who says healthy salads are boring?
This low calorie taco salad is a lifesaver when you need a last minute dish for potlucks, picnics, and game day gatherings. It's made with seven low calorie ingredients in under 20 minutes. The results are a crowd pleasing bowl of taco salad with mouthwatering flavor and a delectable cheesy crunch!
If you enjoy a good taco salad, you'll love this riff on a classic. Nacho cheese Doritos take the place of corn tortilla chips for that signature crunch!
As for the rest of the salad, it's made with everything we love about ground beef tacos; all tossed in vibrant Catalina dressing. So you get delicious taco-seasoned ground beef, creamy cheddar, fresh iceberg, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy Doritos in every bite!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy, and perfect for parties.
- Great way to get in more veggies. What could be more enticing than a salad with Doritos?
- It's a retro salad everyone loves that's perfect in the summer.
- There are lots of ways to customize with mix-ins and toppings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef: Extra-lean 95/5 or 90/10 ground beef works best and has the least calories. If you use fattier ground beef, drain off the fat before seasoning.
- Taco Seasoning: Use your favorite reduced-sodium or regular taco seasoning. Feel free to use spicy taco seasoning if you can handle the heat.
- Iceberg Lettuce: Adds a fresh, crisp element to the salad. You can also use romaine lettuce here.
- Tomato: For tacos and taco salads, use meaty tomatoes like Roma or beefsteak. You can also use halved grape tomatoes, but they're slightly sweeter.
- Shredded Cheese: Low-fat or regular sharp cheddar cheese, Monterrey Jack, or Mexican blend.
- Nacho Cheese Doritos: The star of the salad! Doritos replace plain tortilla chips, making a tasty taco salad even better.
- Catalina Dressing: This rich, sweet dressing is perfect with zesty taco salads. As an alternative, French and Russian dressing is very similar to Catalina. To switch it up, toss your salad in ranch, spicy ranch, and Thousand Island.
Step-By-Step Instructions
tep 1: Brown ground beef. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain well and transfer to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Season ground beef. Add the packet of taco seasoning to the bowl, and stir to coat the meat thoroughly in spices.
Step 3: Toss taco salad. Gently toss the lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese together in a large serving bowl. Then, add the ground beef, and stir to combine.
Step 4: Serve. Immediately before serving, add the Dorito pieces and the dressing. Toss to coat and serve right away. See below for optional toppings. Enjoy!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Once the ground beef is browned and cooked through, it's important to drain off all of the fat. Excess fat will make your salad taste greasy, and we don't want that!
- If possible, shred the cheese from a fresh block. It will have a creamier consistency and all-around better flavor.
- You want the Doritos and lettuce to have their bite still when you serve the salad, so don't add the Doritos or the dressing until immediately before you're ready to serve.
Variations
Protein: Swap the ground beef for ground chicken or ground turkey.
Vegetarian: You can also make a vegetarian version using your favorite plant-based ground meat alternative.
Corn chips: If you aren't a fan of Doritos, feel free to use any corn chips. Fritos and Bugles are great options.
Mix-ins & toppings: Upgrade your Doritos taco salad with more delicious flavors and textures. Check out the list below for what mix-in ideas.
- Avocado
- Jalapeno slices
- Corn kernels
- Black beans
- Crock Pot pinto beans
- Diced red or white onion
- Black olives
- Chopped cilantro
- Guacamole stuffed cherry tomatoes
- Sour Cream
- Instant Pot salsa
- Pico de gallo
- Hot sauce
Storing & Make Ahead
Storing: This is best enjoyed immediately while the lettuce and chips are still crunchy. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for 2-3 days. Do not freeze.
Make Ahead: To save time, you can brown and season the ground beef and chop the veggies one day in advance. Keep everything stored separately in the fridge, then toss it all together right before serving.
Recipe FAQ‘s
The precise amount of calories will vary depending on your specific ingredients. For example, this Doritos taco salad has approximately 150 calories per half-cup.
Lean ground beef is rich in various vitamins and minerals and is an excellent source of protein. It also includes vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, iron, niacin, and vitamin B6.
I like serving the salad while the ground beef is still warm and the veggies are cool, but it's just as delicious if you let the meat cool completely before tossing and serving.
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Low Calorie Taco Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound 95/5 lean ground beef
- 1 packet reduced sodium taco seasoning
- 1 large head of iceberg lettuce chopped into bite sized pieces
- 1 medium tomato diced
- ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 ounces nacho cheese Doritos broken up into bite sized pieces
- 1 cup light Catalina dressing
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain well and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Add the packet of taco seasoning to the bowl, and stir to coat the meat thoroughly in spices.
- Gently toss the lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese together in a large serving bowl. Then, add the ground beef, and stir to combine.
- Immediately before serving, add the Dorito pieces and the dressing. Toss to coat and serve right away. See below for optional toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
- Once the ground beef is browned and cooked through, it's important to drain off all of the fat. Excess fat will make your salad taste greasy, and we don't want that!
- If possible, shred the cheese from a fresh block. It will have a creamier consistency and all-around better flavor.
- You want the Doritos and lettuce to have their bite still when you serve the salad, so don't add the Doritos or the dressing until immediately before you're ready to serve.
- Storing: This is best enjoyed immediately while the lettuce and chips are still crunchy. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for 2-3 days. Do not freeze.
- Make Ahead: To save time, you can brown and season the ground beef and chop the veggies one day in advance. Keep everything stored separately in the fridge, then toss it all together right before serving.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Kim
How many calories is this without the Catalina dressing?
simplylowcal
Hi Kim, it's about 80 calories per serving without the dressing.
Angela Greven | Mean Green Chef
I'm sure this salad packs a serious punch of flavor and crunch, which are tops in my book!