Taco Casserole With Doritos

This Doritos Taco Casserole is everything you love about tacos—seasoned ground beef, classic Tex-Mex toppings, crushed nacho cheese Doritos, and plenty of melty cheese—all baked together into the ultimate comfort food casserole. It’s crunchy, cheesy, and ridiculously flavorful. If you’ve tried my Taco Casserole with Tortillas, you already know my taco casseroles are foolproof, crowd-pleasing, and incredibly easy. And this Doritos version? It might be my best one yet.

Why I Love This Dorito Taco Casserole

Growing up, one of my favorite childhood snacks was a taco-in-a-bag made with nacho cheese Doritos. So naturally, I had to turn that nostalgic flavor into a full-blown casserole—and let me tell you, this recipe nails it. It’s basically the grown-up, leveled-up version of the classic: crunchy Doritos layered between creamy, savory taco beef and gooey melted cheese. One bite, and you’re hooked.

What I love most is how simple this dish is to make. Everything cooks in one skillet, and the whole casserole comes together in minutes. It’s one of those recipes that feels like it should be a guilty pleasure—but it’s also perfect for busy weeknights, football parties, potlucks, or whenever you want something comforting and fun. Every time I make it, people go crazy for it and immediately ask for the recipe.

It’s crunchy, cheesy, hearty, and loaded with Tex-Mex flavor. And if you want to take it up a notch, pair it with my Instant Pot Spanish Rice to turn it into a full fiesta-style dinner. 

Ingredients

This Dorito casserole recipe is a pantry staple recipe! I seriously wouldn't be surprised if you have almost every single ingredient you need to make it. 

Here's what you'll need to make Dorito casserole:

• 1 (15 oz) bag Nacho Cheese-flavored Doritos, lightly crushed
•  1 lb. ground beef
•  ⅓ cup water
•  1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
•  1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
•  1 ( 15.25 oz) can corn, drained
•  1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes and green chiles (I used Ro-tel)
•  1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup 
•  8 oz sour cream
• 2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese, divided
• Garnish with tomatoes and cilantro, optional

A great part about this recipe is that you can totally customize it however you want! If you don't like one of the ingredients, simply take it out. For example, you can swap the beef for chicken or leave the meat altogether. And if you want to add anything like some bell peppers or smashed avocado for the top, feel free to get creative!

By the way, if you want some more casserole recipes, you can make them using some of these ingredients. Give this million dollar chicken casserole or Philly cheesesteak casserole next! Or, for a different-style recipe, you can use some of these ingredients to make this Texas Roadhouse chili.

Oh, if you want to make another version of this casserole recipe, check out this Mexican casserole made with ground beef or this chicken taco casserole.

How To Make Dorito Casserole

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish (or any large casserole dish) with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Cook the Beef

Add the ground beef to a large skillet and set it over medium heat. Cook the beef, breaking it apart, until it's browned and fully cooked. Drain the excess grease. Add ⅓ cup of water and the taco seasoning to the skillet. Stir and simmer the ground beef mixture for 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat.

Step 3: Complete the Filling

Add the black beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream to the skillet with the mix. Give everything a good mix until it fully combines.

Step 4: Assemble the Casserole

Spread ½ of the crushed Dorito chips evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top that with half of the ground beef mixture and half of the cheese. Add the remaining meat mixture on top of the cheese and evenly spread the remaining chips on top of that. Finish it off with the remaining cheese.

Step 5: Bake and Serve

 Spray a piece of foil with non-stick cooking spray and cover the casserole with it. Put it in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve the Dorito casserole warm, and enjoy!

Expert Tips for The Best Dorito Taco Casserole

• Use the right cheese blend for maximum melt. Cheddar is a classic flavor, but a Mexican cheese blend gives you extra creaminess, and pepper jack adds a nice kick if you like a little heat. For the absolute best melt, grate your cheese from a block—pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
• Choose your condensed soup based on flavor. Condensed chicken soup gives a creamy, savory base, but if you want a richer, cheesier casserole, swap it for condensed cheddar cheese soup. It makes the filling extra thick and adds even more cheesy flavor.
• Swap the protein to lighten it up or change flavor. You can make this casserole leaner by using ground turkey or ground chicken—just season generously because they’re milder than beef. For a Tex-Mex twist, use chorizo or mix half ground beef and half sausage.
• Use any chips you like—but add them at the right time. Nacho Cheese  Doritos are the signature flavor, but Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, tortilla chips, or even Flamin’ Hot Doritos all work great. No matter which chip you use, add them in layers right before baking so they stay crunchy.
• Don’t crush the Doritos too small. Keep your chips in medium-sized pieces—too fine and they turn into mush, too large and the casserole doesn’t hold together. Aim for crushed but not powdered chips.
• Avoid a soggy casserole by draining everything well. Drain the ground beef and canned tomatoes/green chiles thoroughly. Excess liquid makes the casserole mushy and prevents the chips from staying crisp.
• Spray the foil before covering. Covering the casserole keeps the cheese from burning, but if you don’t spray the foil with nonstick spray, it will stick to the melted cheese on top. A quick spray saves the whole dish.
• Let the casserole rest before scooping. After baking, let the casserole sit for 5 minutes to firm up. This helps the layers set so each scoop holds together, and the chips stay crispy.
• Load it up with toppings. Just like tacos, toppings make it even better. Serve with: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, jalapeños, pico de gallo, sour cream, cilantro, and green onions. These add freshness, crunch, and balance to the cheesy casserole.
• Add rice or beans to stretch the casserole. If you’re serving a crowd, mix in 1–2 cups cooked rice or additional beans. It makes the dish more filling without losing that Dorito flavor.

Dorito Casserole Recipe FAQS

Can you make Dorito casserole in advance?

Yes — in fact, Dorito casserole is a great make-ahead dinner. Assemble the casserole up to the baking step, cover it tightly with foil or plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, add 10–15 extra minutes to the bake time since it will be going into the oven cold. For the crispiest texture, sprinkle the top layer of Doritos on right before baking instead of letting them sit overnight.

What’s the best way to keep Dorito casserole from getting soggy?

Sogginess usually comes from excess liquid. Make sure to fully drain the ground beef after browning, the canned tomatoes/green chiles, the corn, and the black beans. Also, crush the Doritos into medium pieces — not too fine — and add the top layer immediately before baking so they stay crisp. After baking, let the casserole sit for 5 minutes so it can set without steaming the chips too much.

Can I freeze Dorito casserole?

You can, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Doritos soften in the freezer, so for the best results, freeze the casserole before baking and without the Dorito topping. Assemble the meat mixture, beans, corn, and sauce in the dish, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. When you're ready to eat the casserole, thaw it overnight, top with crushed Doritos and cheese, and bake as directed. Freezing after baking is possible, but the chips will be softer.

How do I store leftover Dorito casserole?

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3–4 days. The chips will soften slightly over time, but reheating helps bring back some crunch.

How do I reheat Dorito casserole?

To keep the casserole creamy and avoid drying it out, reheat it in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes. Add a fresh sprinkle of Doritos and cheese on top before reheating for extra crunch. For single servings, reheat in the microwave in 30–40 second intervals, stirring occasionally. If the sauce thickens too much, add a tablespoon of milk or sour cream before reheating.

What Doritos flavor is best for Dorito casserole?

Nacho Cheese Doritos are my go-to and taste the most like taco-in-a-bag, but Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, Flamin’ Hot, and Taco-flavored Doritos are all amazing. Choose the flavor profile you want — spicy, cheesy, tangy, or classic Tex-Mex — because any of them will work.

Can I use something other than ground beef?

Yes! You can swap the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, chorizo, or a 50/50 mix of beef and sausage for extra flavor. Just make sure to season generously if using lean meats.

Can I make Dorito casserole without condensed soup?

If you prefer not to use condensed soup, you can replace it with one of these options: 1 cup sour cream + ½ cup salsa, 1 cup queso dip, or 1 cup Greek yogurt with some taco seasoning. These alternatives keep the casserole creamy without the canned soup texture.

What can I serve with Dorito casserole?

This casserole pairs perfectly with Tex-Mex and fast-food-style sides like: Taco Bell nacho fries and Taco Bell nacho cheese, Chipotle cilantro lime, Mexican street corn, guacamole or avocado slices, or even a simple green salad with lime dressing. It’s also great with chips and salsa or homemade queso blanco.

Can I make a vegetarian Dorito casserole?

Yes! Replace the ground beef with an extra can of black beans or pinto beans, add sautéed bell peppers or onions, and use vegetable broth in place of water when simmering the taco seasoning. Everything else in the recipe stays the same.

More Casserole Recipes

If you like Mexican recipes and want to make more delicious recipes, check these out:

• Frito taco casserole
• Burrito casserole
• Frito pie
• Beef enchilada casserole
• Ground turkey casserole

For another Mexican-inspired recipe, try these birria tacos!