This cold taco salad recipe makes for our third post for Kids’ Kitchen Monthly Blog Hop with some other bloggers from the Kid Bloggers Network. This Dorito taco salad should be on everyone’s potluck rotation!
Our first two Kids’ Kitchen posts included butter cookies and Tex-Mex migas. This month’s theme is picnic foods.
We had family over a few weeks ago, and I knew we needed something quick and easy to serve for lunch right after church on Sunday. We were not planning on taking a picnic on this particular day, but this cold taco salad would be great to throw into an ice cooler and take along on a picnic.
How to Make Doritos Taco Salad with Doritos and Catalina Dressing
Luckily, Scooter Britches was able to help with a great deal of the prep. Of course, I prepared the taco meat ahead of time so she wouldn’t have to wait around on that step. My dad chopped the tomatoes. At three-years-old, SB’s patience is often lacking when it comes to certain recipe steps. I just prep the things I know are dangerous or out of her ability in advance when I can.
First, we added the cooked and chilled taco meat to a large bowl. Then, we added the cheese, olives, tomatoes, and beans. We did all of this before we left for church on Sunday.
Then, she enjoyed pouring the Catalina into the taco meat. I had to monitor this step more closely to ensure she didn’t pour more than the 1/2 bottle I wanted. Actually, I should have poured the half bottle into a measuring cup ahead of time to better ensure this.
Next, I put the bowl back in the refrigerator until after church.
After church, we pulled out the bowl and added the rest of the ingredients: the Doritos and the lettuce.
As you can see, SB really enjoyed helping to crush the Doritos and pouring them into the bowl. And, yes, we did have a hair bow switch since the white one was lost at church that morning. Observant one, aren’t you?
Next, she added a bit more cheese.
Finally, our cold Dorito taco salad lunch was ready to be served!
How to Make Dorito Taco Salad for a Crowd
Luckily, this easy Dorito taco salad recipe was given to me by one of my favorite teacher friends. Unluckily, she and her family moved away several years ago, but I just know this cold taco salad recipe is still her go-to potluck dish at her new school! Now, it is my go-to potluck dish! Since this taco salad recipe contains ground beef and cheese, it does need to stay chilled. I put the bowl of meat, beans, cheese, olives, and tomatoes in the teacher’s lounge fridge when I arrive at school. At lunchtime, I just crush up the Doritos and toss them in with the lettuce just before serving.
Before you go, please swing by and visit the other Kids’ Kitchen features for the month of May:
Kids’ Kitchen: Teddy Bear Picnic Recipes | Sugar, Spice & Glitter
Tea Sandwiches | Royal Little Lambs
How to Have a Healthy and Courteous Tea Party Picnic | Living Montessori Now
Greek Pasta Salad | Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies | Mess for Less
Cold Taco Salad with Doritos – Cooking with Kids
Ingredients
- 1/2 large bag Doritos crushed into smaller pieces
- 3/4 bottle Catalina salad dressing
- 2 cups grated Cheddar or Cheddar Jack cheese
- 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 2 packs of taco seasoning
- 1.5 cups of water
- 2 cups of salad mix of your choice Romaine, Iceberg, Mixed Greens, etc.
- 3 Roma tomatoes chopped and drained
- 1 can sliced black olives
- 1 can kidney beans or black beans drained
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and drain.
- Return beef to pan.
- Add taco seasoning and 1.5 cups of water and bring to a simmer for about five more minutes.
- Allow meat to cool.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked and drained meat and most of the grated cheese, reserving just a little.
- Mix in 1/2 bottle of Catalina dressing.
- Add tomatoes, olives, and beans.
- Stir well.
- If you are serving immediately, add in the crushed Doritos and two cups of lettuce and mix well before serving.Sprinkle additional cheese and more Catalina, if desired.
- If you are serving later, refrigerate the bowl of taco meat and toppings. Just before serving, add the crushed Doritos and two cups of lettuce to the chilled meat mixture. Mix well and serve. Sprinkle additional cheese and more Catalina, if desired.
Linking up my cold taco salad at these link ups:
Stacey
We make this too and just love it. I don’t usually put it together ahead of time but that’s such a good idea. Your daughter is so precious and I know she loved cooking. 🙂
Happy Thoughts of Home ♥
The Gifted Gabber
Stacey, I don’t always put it together ahead of time either especially if it is just the four of us eating for dinner, but it works out perfectly for potlucks and after-church gatherings. Thank you!
Laura
Catalina dressing is magic, isn’t it?
This is not just a kid friendly recipe- but an adult one as well.
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home.
Laura
The Gifted Gabber
Total magic, Laura!!
chloe | boxwood avenue
mmm Doritos in a salad – now that’s a salad I can get behind!
The Gifted Gabber
Isn’t it, Chloe?? Sooo good!
Classy On The Run
Looks like a neat idea!
The Gifted Gabber
Thanks so much, Classy!
Christine - Jar Of Lemons
She’s the MOST adorable! Love the idea behind this recipe and that it’s kid friendly!
The Gifted Gabber
Why, thanks, Christine! She is a mess!
Mary
I would never even think of this! How much fun this must be to make (and eat!)
The Gifted Gabber
This is really fun to make – with kids or not. And so yummy! My husband was a bit skeptical the first time about the Catalina. He’s weird about dressings. But he LOVES it!
Melanie
This looks interesting but good. I’ll have to try this with my friends kids and see how it turns out
The Gifted Gabber
Melanie, I hope you do! Thanks!
Jolina - The Unlikely Baker
This is too cute! You have a future Master Chef right there 🙂 And this salad is just the thing you need for a busy work night. Looks delicious!
Gotham
This is cool!
Christine @ The (mostly) Simple Life
I would never think to make something like this. Looks good!
Erica D
This salad looks yummy! I recently tried a hot taco casserole type dish that used Doritos chips and it worked out so well. A cold salad with Doritos?? My daughter will be on love!
candy
This would be a great potluck dish to take or for a BBQ
Tanya@myforkinglife.com
OMG She is toooo adorable! I love how she did so much prep and that salad looks yummy 🙂 I will have to add this recipe into my meal plan.
The Gifted Gabber
Thank you, Tanya! This recipe is definitely a quick and easy one you will want to keep!
Lanae Bond
My aunt gave me a taco salad recipe which I love making so much! It is a simple and child friendly recipe.