If you’ve never had a Walking Taco before, let me just say—you’re in for a seriously fun (and ridiculously easy) meal that brings together all the best parts of taco night with zero cleanup. These Doritos Walking Tacos are portable, fully customizable, and packed with bold, zesty flavors. Whether you’re hosting a backyard birthday party, planning a tailgate, or just need a fun twist on dinner that the kids will actually be excited about, this recipe is always a win.

I first stumbled onto this genius idea at a community fair. Picture this: kids and adults alike walking around happily eating tacos… straight from chip bags. No plates, no mess, and tons of smiles. It was love at first crunch. So naturally, I had to recreate it at home—and let me tell you, it quickly became a go-to for our family game nights and BBQs.

What makes these Doritos Walking Tacos even better is how incredibly adaptable they are. You can switch up the meat, go vegetarian, or create a toppings bar so everyone builds their own perfect taco-in-a-bag. Plus, you don’t even need to set the table. Grab a fork and you’re good to go!

Let’s dive into the recipe and get this party snack started.

this recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey

• 1 packet taco seasoning

• 2/3 cup water

• 6 small bags of Doritos (nacho cheese or your favorite flavor)

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes

• 1/4 cup chopped onions (optional)

• 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional)

• Sour cream, salsa, or guacamole for topping

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS: PART ONE

Step 1: Brown the Meat

Start by heating a large skillet over medium heat. Add your ground beef (or turkey if you prefer a leaner option) and break it up as it cooks. You want to keep stirring occasionally so it browns evenly. This usually takes about 6–8 minutes. Once it’s fully cooked, drain any excess fat to avoid greasy tacos.

Step 2: Season the Meat

Next, sprinkle in your taco seasoning packet and pour in the water. Stir everything together so the meat is well-coated in all that spicy, flavorful goodness. Reduce the heat slightly and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. You’ll see the mixture thicken up and become saucy—that’s when you know it’s ready.

Step 3: Prep the Chip Bags

While your meat is simmering, get your Doritos bags ready. Gently crush each bag with your hands to break the chips into bite-sized pieces. Don’t go too wild—you want some texture, not crumbs. Then carefully cut or tear open the top of each bag to create a little “bowl” of chips.

Pro Tip: Nacho cheese Doritos are the classic go-to, but feel free to try Cool Ranch, Spicy Sweet Chili, or whatever flavor your crowd loves most.

Now that your seasoned meat is ready and your chip bags are prepped, it’s time for the fun part—topping and assembling these tasty little walking tacos! This is where the creativity comes in. You can stick to the classics or mix things up depending on what you have in the fridge. Either way, once you spoon that savory taco meat over a crunchy bed of Doritos and pile on all your favorite toppings, you’ve got a meal that’s just as exciting to make as it is to eat.

One of the best things about walking tacos is that they work equally well for kids’ parties, backyard BBQs, or even weeknight dinners when no one feels like washing dishes. You can prepare the meat and toppings ahead of time, then just set everything out for a build-your-own taco bar. It’s interactive, it’s delicious, and cleanup is a breeze.

Let’s keep things moving with the next steps in this ultra-simple recipe.

Step 4: Add the Meat

Carefully spoon the hot, seasoned meat mixture directly into each open bag of Doritos. Start with about 1/4 cup of meat per bag, depending on how hearty you want your walking tacos to be. Be cautious not to overfill—the beauty of walking tacos is being able to eat them straight from the bag without them becoming a mess.

If you’re serving a crowd, you can keep the meat warm in a slow cooker and let guests add it themselves. That way, everyone gets to customize their own and the chips stay crunchy.

Step 5: Layer the Toppings

Now comes the best part—the toppings! Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese over the meat so it melts a little from the heat. Then, pile on shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, sliced jalapeños, or whatever you’re craving.

You can also add:

• Sour cream for some cool creaminess

• Salsa for a bit of zing

• Guacamole or avocado chunks for richness

• Black olives or corn for extra texture

This is where the magic happens because everyone gets to build their dream taco. Want it cheesy and mild? Go light on the spice. Prefer it hot and bold? Add extra jalapeños and a drizzle of hot sauce.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once your bags are loaded up with all the good stuff, hand them out with plastic forks and dig in! There’s something about eating tacos straight out of a Doritos bag that feels just a little more fun—especially for kids. And let’s be honest, adults love it too.

These tacos are best enjoyed immediately while the chips are still crunchy. If you’re making them for a crowd, you can also line up all the toppings buffet-style and let guests build their own right before eating.

TIPS & VARIATIONS TO SWITCH THINGS UP

There’s really no wrong way to do walking tacos, but here are a few ideas to help you switch things up depending on what you’ve got on hand:

1. Change up the chips:
Not a fan of nacho cheese? Try Cool Ranch, Flamin’ Hot, or even Fritos corn chips. Each variety brings a different flavor to the table.

2. Go vegetarian:
Swap out the meat for black beans, refried beans, or a plant-based ground meat alternative. Add extra toppings like corn, avocado, and shredded cabbage to keep things hearty.

3. Try shredded chicken:
Got leftover rotisserie chicken? Toss it with taco seasoning and use it instead of ground beef for a lighter, protein-packed option.

4. Add rice or beans:
Stretch the filling even further by mixing in cooked rice or beans with your meat. Great for feeding a larger group on a budget.

5. Make it spicy:
Add hot sauce, spicy salsa, or pepper jack cheese if your crowd likes a little heat.

6. Set up a walking taco bar:
For parties, lay out bags of chips, warm meat in a slow cooker, and all your toppings in bowls so everyone can create their own combo. It’s like taco night, but way more fun.