Name: Doritos Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium red onion (diced); 1 medium red bell pepper (diced); 1 medium green bell pepper (diced); 1 pound ground beef; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon oregano; Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste; 1/4 cup jarred jalapeños (diced); 1 can diced tomatoes; 1/2 cup frozen sweetcorn; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided); 1/2 cup sour cream; 4 cups Cheese or Nacho Doritos (crushed)

Jump to Recipe

This cheesy Doritos casserole has layers of taco-spiced ground beef, sweet peppers and corn under melty cheddar and crunchy toasted Doritos for a fun family dinner that's ready in about 40 minutes.

If you love a cozy Tex-Mex bake, try my Mexican Tater Tot Casserole or this Cheesy Mexican Taco Pasta next!

Most Doritos casseroles I've come across make the same mistake, which is burying the chips somewhere in the middle where they slowly turn to mush before dinner is even served.

I've never understood it, so my version keeps every Dorito on top, scattered over the cheese right before it goes in the oven so they toast up golden and stay properly crunchy.

There's no taco seasoning packet or canned cream soup here either, which you'll often find in recipes like this.

I use a simple homemade spice blend instead, along with fresh peppers and onion, and the creamy base comes from sour cream and a little cheddar stirred straight into the beef. It's not much more effort, and it tastes so much better.

Why you'll love this Doritos casserole

The Doritos go on top so every single bite stays crunchy
No packets, no canned soup, just a from-scratch taco beef filling
One skillet, one dish and about 40 minutes start to finish

What you'll need

Olive oil - Just a splash to get the veggies going.
Red onion - Diced small so it melts into the beef mixture.
Red and green bell peppers - One of each for sweetness, color and a little bite.
Ground beef - I go for lean, but 80/20 works great too; just drain any extra grease.
Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano - The homemade taco blend that beats any packet.
Jarred jalapeños - Just a bit of heat to keep it family-friendly.
Diced tomatoes - A can, juices and all, to make the filling saucy.
Frozen sweetcorn - For little pops of sweetness in every bite; there's no need to thaw.
Cheddar cheese - Two cups divided: some stirred into the beef for creaminess, the rest melted on top.
Sour cream - Stirred in off the heat for a rich and creamy base without using any canned soup.
Doritos - Cheese or Nacho flavor are the best here, crushed into big shards for the crunchy topping.

Pro tip

Crush the Doritos in the bag into big shards, not fine crumbs, and only add them on top of the cheese right before the dish goes in the oven.

How to make Doritos casserole

This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.

Heat the olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat and cook the onion and both bell peppers for 5-6 minutes until soft.

adding ground beef to a Doritos Casserole

Add the ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up as it browns, then stir in the spices and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Stir in the jalapeños, diced tomatoes and sweetcorn and simmer for 4-5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.

Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the sour cream and half a cup of the cheddar. Top with the remaining cheddar, scatter the crushed Doritos over and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the chips are toasted.

Tex-Mex dish cooking step by step instructions

Substitutions and variations

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter casserole.
Add extra fiber with a drained canned of black beans, which also makes the casserole strech further.
Other Doritos flavor that work well are Cool Ranch if you want a little tanginess or Spicy Nacho for extra heat.

Helpful tips

If your beef releases a lot of grease, drain most of it off before the spices go in so the casserole isn't oily.
Take the skillet fully off the heat before adding the sour cream to avoid splitting.
Let the tomato juices simmer down until the filling is thick and saucy, not watery.

What to serve with Doritos casserole

Set up a toppings bar with extra sour cream, sliced jalapeños, guacamole and cilantro so everyone can load their plate as they like.
Or serve it with a slice of my delicious Easy Cheesy Cornbread.
For a super light option, a crisp green salad with a lime vinaigrette would be smashing!

Leftovers and storage

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes and scatter a fresh handful of crushed Doritos on top before serving.
Freeze the beef and cheese base without the chips for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then top with fresh Doritos and bake until hot and bubbly.

More recipes you'll love

If you've tried this Doritos Casserole recipe, please rate it and leave a comment below! I'd love to hear how it turned out.

And if you're looking for more delicious inspiration, follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!