Ground Beef Dorito Casserole Recipe

Whip up this marvelous Dorito casserole! It’s a Dorito taco casserole with Dorito layers on top and bottom. This easy dinner is quick to whip up and full of Mexican flavor. Give this simple casserole recipe a try for dinner. It is the perfect Taco Tuesday dinner the whole family can enjoy. This hearty casserole is easy to throw together for the perfect weeknight dinner. Add your favorite taco toppings and ring that dinner bell. 

My Dorito casserole recipe includes seasoned ground beef, refried beans, Rotel, cheese, sour cream, and crunchy Doritos. Top with fresh salsa for added flavor, or top it with guacamole for added flavor. The best part is that this is a family favorite that makes for an easy dinner option that takes minimal effort. 

This Mexican casserole recipe is hot and cooks up in no time, making it a simple, no-fuss dinner even picky eaters will try. Another idea is this condensed soup dinner idea list. I am a sucker for easy dinner ideas that is a total comfort food. My son loves this ground beef Doritos casserole. 

Why make this Dorito casserole recipe…

Easy Casserole: Cook the meat and mix in the ingredients. Assemble the casserole and toss it in the oven to bake.

Budget-Friendly Dinner—This is a great budget-friendly dinner option. Only a few ingredients are needed for the Mexican casserole. 

Stores Well Leftover—If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container. Then, reheat in the microwave for a quick whip. 

Versatile—You can easily change this casserole by mixing in ground chicken, rotisserie chicken, ground turkey, etc. This recipe is a great way to create a custom dish you enjoy. 

Mexican Food—This is an easy, budget-friendly Mexican-inspired dish! The taco meat is so easy to throw together and gives this dish tons of Mexican flavors. 

Ingredients 

Ground Beef – You are welcome to use ground pork, chicken, or even turkey. Or use cooked diced chicken or shredded.

Onion – Yellow or white onion will work best for this recipe.  Finely dice the yellow onion. 

Taco Seasoning – Any brand you like or make homemade taco seasoning.

I used Doritos—classic nacho cheese for this recipe. You will crush tortilla chips for the bottom and top of the casserole.

Sour Cream – The sour cream adds a nice creamy texture.

Refried Beans—This is an extra item you can add to the dish. We loved the refried beans mixed in with the meat mixture. They added a lot of flavor to the dish.

Shredded Cheese – I used a Mexican cheese blend but any of your favorite cheese blends works.

Rotel—Rotel is diced tomatoes and green chiles. Do not drain the can, as the liquid helps keep the filling moist rather than dry.

Swaps and Substitutions

• Use a different flavor of Doritos—like Cool Ranch Doritos or even taco-flavored. Or go classic and reach for regular tortilla chips. 
• Leave out refried beans or swap in black beans for a twist on flavor to the ground beef mixture. 
• Mix in drained corn, black olives, bell peppers, etc. 
• Use diced tomatoes if you don’t have or like green chilis. 
• You can use any type of shredded cheese. Pepper jack cheese, Monterey jack cheese, or any other variety works. Use lots of cheese for a cheesy casserole. 
• Mix 4 ounces of cream cheese with the ground beef mixture for an even cheesier texture. 
• Replace Rotel tomatoes with salsa if you would like. 
• You can use a green salsa for a twist on flavor. 

How to Make 

Step One: In a pan, add your ground beef and onions. Then you will cook until no longer pink. Drain off any excess oil on the meat.

Step Two: Next, add your taco seasoning and water to the pan. Mix well so the meat is fully seasoned.

Step Three: The next step is to stir in the refried beans and then pour in the Rotel and sour cream. Remove from heat and stir until combined.

Step Four: Next, crumble some chips and place them in the bottom of your casserole dish. Sprinkle on a thin layer of cheese.

Step Five: Pour the meat mixture over the chips, and top with shredded cheese and crumbled Doritos.

Step Six: Place in a preheated oven and cook for 10 minutes. Remove and serve up your Dorito casserole.

How to Serve

We ate this Mexican ground beef casserole as a meal in one. We piled it high with lettuce, diced tomatoes, a dollop of sour cream, etc. 

You could easily pair with your favorite vegetable side dish, salad, etc. 

Storage

In the Fridge: The Doritos casserole will store in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven wrapped in foil. 

In the Freezer: You can freeze leftovers. Once froze and thawed, the top chips will change in texture. You can freeze the casserole for 2-3 months and then put it in the fridge overnight. 

Pro Tips

• Drain off any excess grease from the ground beef before adding the other ingredients.
• If you do not want to eat soggy chips, skip the bottom layer. We like the bottom layer, as it adds tons of flavor to the casserole.
• The meat mixture is wet, but we prefer a creamier casserole instead of dried-out.
• You can use hot or medium seasoning to add some spice, and the same goes for the Rotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Casseroles

• John Wayne Casserole
• Crockpot Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Taco Cornbread Casserole
• Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

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