Instructions
1. Preheat the oven. Heat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Prepare the Doritos coating. Place the Doritos in a food processor or sealed plastic bag and crush until they resemble fine breadcrumbs. Transfer to a shallow bowl and mix with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and shredded cheddar.
3. Coat the taco shells. Brush the outside of each hard taco shell lightly with melted butter. Press the shells into the crushed Doritos mixture, coating the outside evenly. Gently press the crumbs onto the shells so they adhere.
4. Bake the shells. Arrange the coated shells upright on the prepared baking sheet or in a taco holder. Bake for 5–7 minutes, just until warm, fragrant, and crisp. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
5. Cook the ground beef. While the shells bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 7–9 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles until browned. Drain excess grease.
6. Season the beef. Stir in the taco seasoning, garlic powder, cumin, and water. Simmer for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
7. Prepare the toppings. Shred the lettuce, dice the tomatoes and onion, and have the sour cream and remaining cheddar ready.
8. Fill the tacos. Spoon a generous portion of seasoned beef into each warm Doritos-coated shell.
9. Add the toppings. Layer with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, and red onion. Finish with a drizzle or dollop of sour cream.
10. Serve immediately. Arrange the tacos on a serving platter and enjoy while the shells are crunchy and the beef is warm.
Variations
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Cool Ranch Doritos Tacos: Replace Nacho Cheese Doritos with Cool Ranch Doritos for a tangy, herb-seasoned shell.
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Extra Cheesy Tacos: Add a layer of warm nacho cheese sauce over the seasoned beef before adding the toppings.
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Spicy Doritos Tacos: Use Flamin’ Hot Nacho Cheese Doritos and add sliced jalapeños for extra heat.
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Chicken Doritos Tacos: Substitute seasoned shredded chicken for the ground beef.
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Supreme Doritos Tacos: Add diced avocado, black olives, red onion, and a drizzle of creamy chipotle sauce.
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Loaded Beef Tacos: Mix refried beans into the seasoned beef for an even heartier filling.
Tips
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Crush the Doritos finely. Smaller crumbs stick better to the taco shells and create a more even, flavorful coating.
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Use melted butter sparingly. A thin coating is enough to help the crumbs adhere without making the shells greasy.
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Don’t overbake the shells. Hard taco shells are already cooked, so they only need a few minutes to warm and crisp.
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Drain the beef thoroughly. Removing excess grease keeps the filling flavorful without making the shells soggy.
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Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheddar melts beautifully and gives the tacos a richer flavor.
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Assemble just before serving. Adding the beef and fresh toppings too early can soften the crunchy Doritos coating.
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Make a taco bar. Set out the beef, shells, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and extra Doritos so everyone can build their own tacos.
