Description
This Doritos Casserole is a flavorful, cheesy, and satisfying baked dish that combines seasoned ground beef, diced vegetables, beans, and creamy sour cream layered with crunchy Doritos chips and melted Colby Jack cheese. Perfect for a comforting family dinner with a fun twist on traditional casseroles.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup onion, diced
Seasonings and Cans
- 1 ounce taco seasoning
- 1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilis
- 1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Dairy and Chips
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 (16 ounce) shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 1 (16 ounce) bag Doritos Nacho Cheese chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula until fully browned. Drain excess grease to keep the dish from being too oily.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced onions and red bell peppers into the skillet with the beef and cook for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables soften slightly.
- Add Seasoning and Tomatoes: Stir in taco seasoning and the can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies. Cook the mixture for another 2-3 minutes to blend flavors.
- Combine Beans and Sour Cream: Add drained pinto beans and sour cream to the skillet, stirring well to combine all ingredients. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Prepare Doritos: Break the Doritos chips into medium-sized pieces, ensuring they are not crushed too finely to maintain some crunch.
- Assemble Layers: Spread one-third of the broken Doritos evenly over the bottom of the casserole dish. Layer half of the beef mixture over the chips, then sprinkle one-third of the shredded cheese on top.
- Repeat Layers: Add another third of the broken Doritos chips over the cheese, top with the remaining beef mixture, and sprinkle with another third of the shredded cheese.
- Finish Layering: Spread the remaining Doritos chips on top, then finish with the last third of the shredded cheese to ensure a cheesy crust when baked.
- Bake: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optional Garnish: Remove from oven and optionally top with diced green onions or other preferred toppings for added freshness and flavor.
- Serve: Serve the casserole warm for a delicious, crunchy, and cheesy meal.
Notes
- Do not crush the Doritos into too fine pieces; medium chunks ensure the right crunchy texture.
- Use Colby Jack cheese for its excellent melting qualities and mild flavor, but you can substitute with a Mexican cheese blend if preferred.
- For extra heat, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Drain the ground beef well to avoid excess grease making the casserole soggy.
- This casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking. Just increase bake time slightly if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Doritos casserole, cheesy casserole, ground beef casserole, layered casserole, easy dinner, Tex-Mex casserole
