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Doritos Taco Cups

Doritos Taco Cups are crunchy, cheesy bite-sized tacos made with Nacho Cheese Doritos, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheddar cheese. Baked in a muffin tin and finished with fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and green onions, these fun taco cups are perfect for parties, game nights, family dinners, and taco Tuesday.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag Nacho Cheese Doritos
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup chopped lettuce
  • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
  • sour cream, for topping
  • chopped green onions, for topping
  • salsa (optional)

Equipment

  • oven Preheat to 375°F for baking the taco cups.
  • muffin tin For shaping and baking the Doritos taco cups.
  • skillet For browning the ground beef.
  • Cooking spoon or spatula For breaking up and stirring the ground beef.
  • Colander or strainer For draining excess grease from the beef, if needed.
  • measuring cups For measuring the cheese and fresh toppings.
  • Serving platter For arranging the finished taco cups.

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a muffin tin. Gather your Doritos, ground beef, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese, and fresh toppings so everything is ready to go. Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease, then add the taco seasoning according to the packet instructions. Stir until the beef is evenly coated and full of flavor.
  2. Carefully arrange whole Doritos around the edges of each greased muffin cup, overlapping them slightly to create little chip cups. Choose sturdy, unbroken chips whenever possible so they hold the filling without falling apart. The cups do not need to look identical; their rustic, crunchy edges are part of their appeal.
  3. Spoon the warm, seasoned ground beef into each Doritos cup. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top, making sure every cup gets a layer of cheese. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the filling is heated through. Keep a close eye on the cups because the exposed Doritos edges can brown quickly.
  4. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and let the taco cups cool for a minute or two. Carefully lift each one out and transfer it to a serving platter. Top with chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, a little sour cream, and chopped green onions. Add salsa if desired. Serve immediately while the chips are still crunchy and the cheese is warm.

Notes

Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a muffin tin. Brown the ground beef, drain excess grease, and season according to the taco seasoning packet instructions. Arrange sturdy, unbroken Doritos around the edges of each muffin cup, overlapping them to form small cups. Add the beef and cheddar cheese, then bake for 10–12 minutes until the cheese melts and the filling is hot. Watch the exposed chips carefully because they can burn quickly. Let the cups cool for a minute or two before removing them. Add lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, and optional salsa immediately before serving to preserve crunch. For make-ahead preparation, cook and refrigerate the taco meat separately. Refrigerate leftover beef-filled cups without fresh toppings in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven and add fresh toppings afterward.