Dorito Casserole

Recipe tester Barrett Heald raves that this flavorful Dorito casserole would make a perfect weeknight meal. She even packed up the leftovers to share with her family!

Ingredients for Dorito Casserole

Here’s what you’ll need to prepare this Dorito casserole recipe at home: 

• Beef: Start with a pound of lean ground beef. 
• Fresh vegetables: A yellow onion and a red bell pepper add color and flavor. 
• Seasoning: Use store-bought taco seasoning or make your own at home. 
• Canned vegetables: You’ll need canned diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions and canned black beans. 
• Sour cream: Sour cream creates a thick, rich texture and adds a pleasant tang. 
• Doritos: Of course, you’ll need Doritos!
• Cheese: Shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese takes the flavor and texture up a notch. 
• Toppings: Top each serving of the Dorito casserole with chopped tomato, sliced green onion, chopped cilantro, and/or salsa. 

How to Prepare Dorito Casserole

Below is the full, step-by-step guide to making this Dorito casserole — but here’s a quick overview of the process to give you an idea of what to expect: 

1. Brown the ground beef, drain any excess fat, and return the beef to the pan. 
2. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper, cooking until softened, then stir in the seasonings and water.
3. Mix in the canned vegetables and sour cream. 
4. Assemble the casserole as outlined in the recipe instructions. 
5. Bake until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the casserole is thoroughly heated. 
6. Top with your favorite garnishes and serve. 

Kitchen Expert Tips

This recipe was carefully crafted in our test kitchen. Here are a few helpful tips from our culinary experts to make the cooking process even smoother: 

• Recipe developer Sarah Brekke says you can use any Dorito variety you like, from Nacho Cheese to Cool Ranch. Have fun with this recipe!
• Sarah recommends serving with your favorite side salad.

How to Store Dorito Casserole

Keep any leftover Dorito casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To prevent the chips from becoming soggy, it's best to reheat the casserole in the oven instead of the microwave. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

Ingredients List

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 cup chopped yellow onion

• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper

• 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles (such as RO*TEL®), drained

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup sour cream, plus more for serving

• 1 (9 1/4-ounce) bag nacho cheese or cool ranch Doritos®, lightly crushed (about 5 cups)

• 3 cups shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese

For Serving Suggestions:

• 1 tomato, chopped, or to taste

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, or to taste

• 1/2 cup salsa, or to taste

Instructions

Gather all the ingredients you'll need to prepare the casserole.

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, then drain any excess fat.

Add the onion and bell pepper, then cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the taco seasoning and water, then simmer the mixture until it thickens, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the diced tomatoes, sour cream, and black beans.

Evenly spread 1 1/2 cups of crushed chips at the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

Evenly distribute about half of the beef mixture over the layer of chips.

Top the casserole with 1 ½ cups of crushed chips and 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese.

Layer the remaining meat, chips, and cheese on top, repeating the process.

Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 25 minutes.

Top with diced tomatoes, green onions, and fresh cilantro, then serve with salsa and extra sour cream on the side.

Nutrition Information (per serving)