Doritos Nachos are the ultimate game day appetizer, after school snack or even a family-friendly dinner idea! This Doritos nachos recipe is easy to customize and it’s hard to stop yourself from going back for more.
Packed full of zesty flavors, these Doritos nachos with ground beef are sure to please.
Is there anything better than sharing a giant plate of nachos with friends or family? We tend to choose our favorite bar-style restaurants based on how amazing their nachos are, actually.
We are big fans of all types of nachos around here – don’t miss these incredible sheet pan chicken nachos and even these Italian nachos. It’s such a fun way to share with a crowd for game day or even an easy weeknight dinner.
Yes, nachos can be dinner – why not? Round them out with plenty of veggies, pack them with protein and you’re good to go. In fact, they are very similar to my ever-popular walking tacos recipe. What’s not to love?
These Doritos nachos capture all of your favorite savory game day spices in one heaping pile of deliciousness! I think you’re going to love them for a fun spin on the classic tortilla chip nachos.
Why You’ll Love Doritos Nachos
- Quick and Easy
- Crowd Pleaser
- Make for one or a Crowd
- Adaptable
These are wonderful for a game day snack, much like my favorite Trail Mix Without Raisins – don’t skip it!
Doritos Nachos Ingredients and Substitutions
- Doritos – Nacho Cheese Doritos are a classic in this recipe, but feel free to choose your favorite flavor of Doritos! Just be careful about mixing anything too wild with your taco meat.
- Ground Beef – Choose the best ground chuck you can find, as you want tender, soft pieces of taco meat for this Doritos nachos recipe. We generally go with 93/7.
- Taco Seasoning – It’s so easy to make your own taco seasoning, but you can also grab your favorite packet from the grocer.
- Cheese – Purchase a block and freshly shred for the creamiest consistency with the best melt. You can use Cotija cheese, Cheddar, Queso Fresco, Monterey Jack, Manchego, Velveeta or any of your favorites!
- Toppings – Have fun with this part! I’ll list all my favorite topping ideas below.
Variations
- Try a spicy Doritos bag, or Ranch, or your favorite type of Doritos!
- Use chicken taco meat instead of ground beef.
How to Make Doritos Nachos in Just Five Easy Steps
- Preheat oven. While you’re waiting, cook ground beef and add taco seasoning.
- On a sheetpan or oven-safe plate, add a layer of Doritos.
- Top with drained meat and shredded cheese along with any toppings you wish to be baked.
- Bake 2½ to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Careful not to burn chips.
- Add toppings and serve warm (see below for topping suggestions).
Doritos Nachos Recipe Topping Suggestions
- Lime Crema
- Pico de Gallo
- Sour Cream
- Red Onions
- Lettuce
- Guacamole
- Salsa Guacamole
- Creme Fraiche
- Candied Jalapeños
- Sliced Fresh Peppers
- Avocado chunks
- Sliced Banana Peppers
- Radishes
- Cilantro
- Pinto Beans, Black Beans or this Cream Cheese Bean Dip
- Chipotle Corn Salsa
- Sliced green onions
Watch the video where Julie will walk you through each step of this easy recipe. You will find a collection of recipe videos right here on our website with corresponding recipes.
Tips
- Always shred your cheese fresh – the flour mixture that’s added to bagged shredded cheese prevents it from melting fully.
- Create a thin layer of chips for a good chip to toppings ratio.
- Repeat with two layers to ensure each chip has a great variety of toppings, if you’d like.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up.
- Don’t bake for more than 8-10 minutes or your Doritos will begin to get brown and burnt at the edges.
Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
Shortcuts
- Use Rotisserie Chicken
- Cook your taco meat ahead of time to save a step – simply reheat it a bit before you add it to the nachos to ensure it’s warm enough when it comes out of the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cotija is a salty, crumbly cheese that is popular in Mexican dishes. It’s a firm, dry cow’s milk cheese that can be crumbled over any of your favorite savory Tex-Mex or Mexican dishes.
Yes, Doritos can go in the oven for up to 10 minutes. Just ensure they don’t bake for too long or they’ll get too crispy!
Doritos are a flavored tortilla chip – made with a corn chip as the base and coated with a dried cheese seasoning mix.
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – These Doritos nachos can sit out for up to two hours during serving. Of course, nachos are always best right out of the oven with warm melting cheese.
- Refrigerate – You can refrigerate your nachos and reheat them for later – though they’ll never be quite as delicious as the original. Place your nachos in an airtight plastic bag, eliminating the extra air to store in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
What to Do with Leftovers
Before reheating these Doritos nachos, remove the cold toppings (crema, sour cream, pico de gallo, lettuce, etc.) from the nachos. Spread them out on a baking sheet and reheat at at 275 degrees F for 10-15 minutes to make the chips crispy again.
Dietary Considerations
- Gluten Free (Doritos are technically gluten free, but can face cross contamination in their processing facilities, so proceed with caution)
- Nut Free
More Beef Recipes You’ll Love
- How To Make Burgers In The Oven
- Juicy Sliders
- Street Tacos
- Mini Tacos
- Homemade Lasagna
- Braised Beef Ragu with Pappardelle
Doritos Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 14.5 bag Doritos
- 1 pound lean ground beef or chicken breast, cubed
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 8 ounces cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add ground beef or chicken and taco seasoning. Brown using a potato masher or spatula to break it up until no pink remains.
- On a sheetpan or oven-safe plate, add a layer of Doritos.
- Top with drained meat and shredded cheese along with any toppings you wish to be baked.
- Bake 2½ to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Careful not to burn chips.
- Add toppings and serve warm (see below for topping suggestions).
Julie’s Tips
Topping Suggestions
- Beans
- Corn
- Avocado
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Sour Cream
- Cilantro
- Green Onion
- Red Pepper
- Jalapeño (or candied jalapeños)
- Banana Peppers
- Radish
- Cojita Cheese
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
