Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

This Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing is perfect for your next pitch-in or as a fun weeknight dinner for the family. The homemade dressing uses a can of tomato soup so it’s easy to put together and everyone will love the flavor.

Barbara first had a version of this taco salad at her godson’s baptism. It was love at first bite so she, of course, asked for the recipe.

Aren’t these the best kind of recipes? The ones that are passed from a friend of a friend to us?

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing (Dorito Taco Salad):

If you are serving a big crowd and anticipate eating this Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing at one sitting, then go ahead and mix all the ingredients.

If not, Barbara recommends making individual, customized salads for each member of the family. That way instead of being stuck with soggy leftovers, you can have crisp salads another day that taste just as great as the original.

The secret ingredient in this homemade dressing is a can of tomato soup. Yes, I said TOMATO SOUP!

The dressing will stay in the fridge for a couple weeks, just give it a good shake to re emulsify the oil. The dressing recipe makes 2 pints, so it is easily halved (as is the salad recipe) if you aren’t feeding a crowd and don’t want leftovers.

You can easily prep the salad, meat mixture and dressing the night before serving and just throw them all together at the last minute (just be sure to shake the dressing before adding).

How to Make Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

Instructions:

1. Brown the ground beef and drain.
2. Add drained beans and ground beef back to skillet and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. For dressing, add all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
4. Toss ground beef/beans, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cheese and Doritos together and top with dressing. Serve immediately.

For the full instructions for Doritos Taco Salad, scroll to the bottom of this post. 

Notes About Doritos Taco Salad (with Catalina taco salad dressing):

• Use your favorite taco salad ingredients.
• Substitute black beans or pinto beans for kidney beans.
• Do not toss this until right before serving. You do not want a soggy salad.
• This Catalina taco salad dressing will stay good in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. Just give it a good stir or shake before using.  Feel free to make it ahead of time.
• Any flavor of Doritos can be used.

More Taco-Inspired Recipes:

Mexican Lasagna

Crock Pot Enchiladas

Easy Taco Salad

Ground Beef Burritos

Taco Chopped Salad

Print Recipe

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

This Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing is perfect for your next pitch-in or as a fun weeknight dinner for the family.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Entree, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: catalina taco salad dressing, doritos taco salad, homemade taco salad dressing, taco salad, taco salad dressing, taco salad with homemade dressing

Servings: 6

Calories: 935kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 head of lettuce torn into bite sized pieces
• 1 yellow onion chopped
• 1 package cherry tomatoes halved
• 16 oz. package shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can dark red kidney beans
• 1/2 bag of your favorite Doritos Taco or Sweet Chili are especially good

Dressing

• 1 can Campbell's Tomato Soup
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 t. salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

• Brown the ground beef in a skillet, crumbling as you go; drain fat.
  
• Add the ground beef back to skillet with the drained beans. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• For dressing, add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.
  
• When ready to serve, toss lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cheese, Doritos, ground beef mixture and dressing; serve immediately,
  

Notes

• Use your favorite taco salad ingredients.
• Substitute black beans or pinto beans for kidney beans.
• Do not toss this until right before serving. You do not want a soggy salad.
• This Catalina taco salad dressing will stay good in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. Just give it a good stir or shake before using.  Feel free to make it ahead of time. 
• Any flavor of Doritos can be used. 
• Try our other favorite Taco Salad recipe. 

Nutrition

Calories: 935kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 73g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 64597257mg | Potassium: 13783mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 963IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40534mg | Iron: 552mg