Doritos Locos Tacos Copycat Recipe
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 250kcal
Create a homemade version of Doritos Locos Tacos with this copycat recipe. Coat taco shells with homemade Dorito-inspired cheddar powder and fill them with taco goodness for a delicious copycat experience!
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Equipment
- small bowl
- meat chopper optional
- large pot for frying (like a Dutch oven)
- taco shapers optional
- paper towels
Ingredients
Nacho Cheese Powder
- ½ cup cheddar cheese powder
- ¼ cup buttermilk powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons fine kosher salt (or sea salt)
- ½ teaspoon Monosodium glutamate (msg)
Taco Shells
- 8 corn tortillas
- vegetable oil (for frying, amount will depend on pot)
Taco Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 taco seasoning packet (or see notes for homemade recipe)
Optional Toppings
- 1 fresh tomato, finely diced
- ½ cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup finely shredded iceberg lettuce
- sour cream
- salsa or hot sauce
Instructions
Nacho Cheese Powder
- Combine all of the nacho cheddar cheese powder ingredients in a small bowl, mix to combine, and set aside.
Taco Shells
- In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 365°F (185°C). Place a corn tortilla in a taco shaper if you are using one. If you are not using a taco shaper, use tongs to shape the shell while frying.
- Fry the taco shells using tongs until golden brown, about 30-45 seconds per side. Carefully remove the tortillas from the shaper and place the fried shell on a wire rack with a paper towel underneath.
- Immediately dust with the nacho cheese powder on both sides of the shell so that the powder will stick to the hot oil. Repeat with all of the tortillas and allow the shells to cool.
Taco Meat
- Cook the ground beef in a pan over medium-high heat. Drain the fat if desired and prepare with the taco seasoning according to the packet's directions.
- Crumble the ground beef into small pieces using a meat chopper or a potato masher. This step is optional, but highly recommended.
- To assemble the tacos, start with the ground beef, followed by the sour cream, tomatoes, cheese, and any other topping you desire.
Notes
- You can use store-bought taco shells. Spray each shell with non-stick spray and warm in a 325°F oven for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle each shell with the nacho cheese powder and allow to cool.
- For the most authentic experience, using a meat chopper is a game changer for the ground beef. You get perfect crumbled ground beef just like the fast food restaurant.
- The taco shaper is also a new favorite find of mine on Amazon. It's easy to use and shapes the tortilla shells perfectly.
- I really coated my shells thinking it would make them even better. They were good, but also messy. A little bit of the cheddar cheese powder goes a long way.
- Get creative with your toppings and don't forget the hot sauce is that's what you love.
- The best way to store these tacos is to store each component separately in an airtight container in the fridge. The taco shells can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.5g | Protein: 9.4g | Fat: 11.9g | Saturated Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 11598mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 2.1g | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 1mg
