Doritos, the crunchy, seasoned tortilla chip with a cult following, could be your new favorite recipe enhancer. Some of BlogChef’s most popular recipes feature Doritos for added texture, flavor, and fun.
Did you know? Doritos were invented and first served at Disneyland. As the story goes, cooks at the Casa de Fritos restaurant in the amusement park’s Frontierland stumbled onto the hit chip recipe by making use of leftover corn tortillas. After a triangle cut, some seasoning, and a deep fry, Doritos were born.
Learning to cook with Doritos could make you the top-ranking party host in your friend group. Or, at the least, you’ll be ready to upgrade your favorite salads, nachos, and casseroles with that incomparable Dorito crunch and taste.

How to use Doritos in cooking
You can add Doritos to any recipe that could benefit from extra crunch and flavor. Three no-fail strategies for cooking with Doritos are:
- Doritos as a crust or coating. Place your Doritos in a sealed plastic bag and smash them with a rolling pin or mallet to your desired texture. Use the smashed chips as a coating for fried snacks, like chicken nuggets or mozzarella sticks. The chips can burn fast in hot oil, so watch them carefully if you are deep-frying.
- Doritos as a crunchy topping for casseroles. If a casserole recipe features any sort of textural topping, like fried onions or toasted bread crumbs, you can swap in Doritos instead.
- Doritos in salad. Chop or break Doritos with your hands and use them as a salad topping. Add them after you’ve tossed the salad with dressing to prevent the chips from getting soggy.
- Dorito nachos. This is a no-brainer. Any recipe that uses tortilla chips should also work with Doritos.
Generally, you can substitute Doritos for bread crumbs, Panko, fried onions, Fritos, and regular tortilla chips. Note that Doritos have more flavor and salt than these items, so you may need to adjust the seasonings in your recipe.
Best Doritos recipes
These nine Doritos recipes show the flavored chip’s range as an ingredient.
Doritos chicken strips
This recipe transforms chicken strips into a crispy, flavorful snack by coating them in a mixture of mayonnaise, milk, and taco seasoning, then rolling them in finely chopped Doritos. The strips are baked in the oven, for a cleaner, healthier alternative to fried chicken. You can use Cool Ranch or Nacho cheese Doritos. Serve these strips with or without dipping sauce.
Doritos taco salad
This fun twist on a taco salad mixes seasoned ground beef, chili beans, and French dressing with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and black olives. Right before serving, fold in crushed Doritos for a bolder flavor and texture. This is a great dish to bring to a party or enjoy as a satisfying weeknight meal.
Doritos chicken bites
In this take on the baked chicken nugget, you skip the mayo in favor of egg and flour. Finely crushed Doritos bringing the crunch. Once baked, these bites come out with a golden, crispy exterior that’s bursting with that salty, spicy chip seasoning. Doritos chicken bites are perfect for game days, parties, or whenever you’re craving something fun and easy to munch on.
Doritos mozzarella sticks
These are next-level cheese sticks. They’re the crispy, gooey snack that satisfies any fried-food craving. Serve them up with zesty marinara sauce and watch them disappear fast at parties or snack time.
Doritos mozzarella sticks recipe
Doritos chicken nachos
This recipe piles Nacho Cheese Doritos with savory, seasoned chicken and cheese for a flavor-packed feast. Baked until the cheese bubbles and the chips crackle, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for game nights or casual gatherings. Add your favorite fresh toppings like salsa, jalapeños, sour cream, and dig in.
Doritos chicken casserole
This Dorito Chicken Casserole features layers of shredded chicken, creamy sauce, cheese, and smashed Doritos, all baked until bubbling. The top stays delightfully crisp while the inside has that comforting casserole texture. It’s a fun, easy dish.
Walking tacos casserole
Sure, there’s a bit of contradiction in the idea of a walking taco casserole, but who cares? You can’t go wrong mixing seasoned ground beef with a cheese sauce and topping the whole thing with chips. The recipe calls for Fritos — the standard walking tacos ingredient — but Doritos make a great substitute.
Cheesy taco pasta
Cheesy Taco Pasta is a twist on the Dorito casserole idea that combines the bold flavors of taco night with the comfort of pasta. Ground beef is the headliner, but you could easily swap in another ground protein. Taco seasoning, sauce, and plenty of cheese, plus a Dorito topping round out the dish. It’s quick, creamy, and satisfying. Sprinkle some fresh toppings like green onions or cilantro to take it over the top.
Taco burgers
Taco Burgers blend classic burger vibes and taco flair by teaming ground beef with taco seasoning, salsa, and crushed Doritos. Grilled to perfection, each patty gets topped with cheese and, of course, Doritos. Add your favorite burger toppings from guacamole to lettuce to make this recipe your own.
Cooking with Doritos FAQs
Can you cook with Doritos?
Yes, you can cook with Doritos. Try substituting crushed or finely chopped Doritos for bread crumbs or Panko. Or, use Doritos as a crunch-maker or topping, the same way you’d use canned fried onions or broken up tortilla chips. They also work well as a more flavorful alternative to tortilla chips or Fritos.
What kind of Doritos are best for casseroles?
Nacho Cheese Doritos are a classic choice for casseroles. Flamin’ Hot, Spicy Nacho, and Sweet Chili flavors can also work. Cool Ranch Doritos make a good coating for chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks.
How can I make a Doritos casserole spicier?
You can spice up a Doritos casserole by using Flamin’ Hot Doritos instead of the classic Nacho Cheese flavor. Or, add roasted green chiles to the filling.
Can you store a Doritos casserole?
Yes, you can store a Doritos casserole. First, let it cool completely. Then, cover it tightly with foil. Refrigerate for up to three days or freeze it. To reheat the Doritos casserole, preheat your oven to 350°F or 177°C. Heat the casserole for 15 or 20 minutes uncovered so the top crisps up again.