Cool Ranch Doritos are an iconic snack food that have been popular for decades. Known for their tangy, cool ranch flavor and crunch, Doritos are a go-to chip for dipping, snacking, and recipe ingredients. But what should you eat with Cool Ranch Doritos to enhance the flavor? There are many delicious options that pair well with the zesty Doritos to create the ultimate snack or meal.
Salsas and Dips
Salsas and dips are classic pairings with Cool Ranch Doritos that add extra flavor and creaminess. The chips’ ability to hold up with hearty dips and cling to chunky salsas make them the perfect vehicle for getting the dip from bowl to mouth.
Some top recommended salsas and dips include:
- Guacamole – The cool creaminess of guacamole complements the zesty Doritos.
- Queso dip – Ooey, gooey queso sauce takes the Tex-Mex flavors up a notch.
- Salsa – Tomato or mango salsa adds freshness and acidity.
- Bean dip – Hearty bean dips stick nicely to the chips.
- Ranch dip – For those who can’t get enough of the cool ranch flavor.
- Artichoke spinach dip – The savory, cheesy dip pairs nicely with the bold Doritos.
When pairing dips with Doritos, look for dips that have a creamy texture and flavors that will complement but not overpower the Cool Ranch taste.
Cheese and Meat Pairings
For heartier snack pairings, consider cheese and cured or cooked meats. The saltiness and savoriness of these proteins work nicely with the flavor of Cool Ranch Doritos.
Good cheese pairings include:
- Cheddar – Sharp cheddar has the perfect boldness.
- Pepper jack – The spice complements the Doritos.
- Queso fresco – Crumbled over the top, this moist cheese adds a tasty topping.
- Cream cheese – Whipped cream cheese or chive and onion cream cheese spread over the chips adds flavor and richness.
- Nacho cheese – No chip pairing would be complete without nacho cheese sauce.
Delicious meat pairings with Cool Ranch Doritos include:
- Pepperoni
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Chorizo
- Jerky
- Summer sausage
For easy snacking, simply top your Cool Ranch Doritos with slices of cheese and meat. Feeling fancy? Make mini nachos by layering crumbled meat, shredded cheese, onions, peppers, beans, salsa, and other toppings on individual Doritos. The options are endless!
Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and veggies may seem like an unlikely pairing for Doritos, but they can provide great balance and extra nutrition. The trick is to choose produce with a crunchy texture and bright, acidic flavors that enhance the Doritos’ zing.
Some fruits that go well with Cool Ranch Doritos:
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Apple
- Grapes
- Orange wedges
- Melon
- Berries
Crunchy, fresh veggies like:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Bell peppers
- Jicama
- Radishes
- Broccoli florets
- Cauliflower
You can chop up fruits and veggies for fresh salsa or dip them in Greek yogurt ranch dip. Another fun idea is to skewer bite-sized pieces of produce on toothpicks along with cheese cubes, olives, and salami for colorful Dorito bites.
Sandwiches and Wraps
For a more substantial meal, Cool Ranch Doritos can be incorporated into sandwiches, tacos, and wraps. Crunch up some chips and sprinkle them in for great texture.
Some sandwich/wrap options with Cool Ranch Doritos:
- BLT wrap with crushed Doritos
- Turkey and cheese sandwich with Doritos
- Tuna or chicken salad sandwich with chopped Doritos
- Ham and Swiss slider on mini buns with Dorito garnish
- Quesadilla with shredded cheese, chicken, and Doritos
- Soft taco with taco meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and crushed Doritos
The key is to pile on your favorite savory ingredients between the bread or in the wrap, then add crunch with a sprinkling or layer of crushed Doritos. Ranch-flavored chips also pair well with cold cuts like turkey, ham, and roast beef.
Pizzas
What’s better than a cheesy pizza loaded with tasty toppings? A pizza with Cool Ranch Doritos! The thin, crispy chips can be used as fun and flavorful pizza toppings.
Here are some delicious Dorito pizza combinations:
- BBQ chicken pizza with Doritos
- Buffalo chicken ranch pizza with Doritos
- Spicy sausage and jalapeno pizza with Doritos
- Veggie pizza with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and Doritos
- Cheeseburger pizza with ground beef, onion, pickle, and Doritos
- Breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs, bacon, and Doritos
The sky’s the limit for creative Dorito-topped pizzas! You can either use them as a topping or crush them up to make Dorito “breadcrumbs” to sprinkle over the cheesy pizza.
Taco Recipes
Since Cool Ranch Doritos have a bold, Tex-Mex flavor, they work beautifully in taco recipes. Both hard and soft shell tacos get delicious crunch from crumbled or whole Doritos.
| Taco recipe | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Doritos crunchy tacos | Fill hard taco shells with meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese and top with crumbled Doritos. |
| Dorito taco salad | In a bowl, layer lettuce, taco meat, beans, cheese, salsa, sour cream, and finish by topping with crushed Cool Ranch Doritos. |
| Nacho tacos | Fill soft tortillas with seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese sauce, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and whole Cool Ranch Doritos. |
| California tacos | Fill soft tortillas with grilled chicken, guacamole, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and whole Doritos. |
You can also bake crunchy Dorito taco shells by folding them into a taco shape secured with a toothpick, lightly spritzing both sides with oil, and baking at 400°F for 5-7 minutes. Let cool completely before carefully removing toothpicks and filling.
Burgers and Hot Dogs
For an extra flavor and texture punch, add Cool Ranch Doritos to your favorite burger or hot dog recipe. The chips provide the perfect crunch when wedged into buns or layered on top of juicy patties and sausages.
| Item | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Burgers | Top beef patties with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and crushed Doritos on buns. |
| Cheeseburgers | Stuff the cheese inside beef patties before cooking then garnish with Doritos. |
| Bacon cheeseburgers | Add crumbled bacon and sandwich with crushed Doritos in the bun. |
| Hot dogs | Top hot dogs in buns with ketchup, mustard, relish, onions and sprinkle on crushed Doritos. |
For backyard barbecues, set out bags of Cool Ranch Doritos for topping grilled meats and snacking. The bold flavor pairs perfectly with smoky barbecue.
Snack Mixes and Trail Mixes
Cool Ranch Doritos add zesty flavor and addictive crunch to snack mixes and trail mixes. Combine them with nuts, seeds, cereal, crackers, pretzels, dried fruit, and other ingredients for an anytime munchie mix.
Some tasty Dorito snack mix ideas:
- Mix Doritos with peanuts, mini pretzels, toasted oat cereal, and dried cranberries.
- Toss together Doritos, toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds, multigrain cereal squares, and raisins.
- Stir together Doritos, cashews, sunflower seeds, granola clusters, and dried mango or banana chips.
- Combine Doritos with roasted pecans, sesame sticks, cereal squares, and chocolate chips.
Adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your taste preferences. Store the snack mixes in airtight containers. They’re great for road trips, hiking, and anytime snacking at home.
Nachos
No article about Doritos would be complete without mentioning nachos! Nachos are the quintessential dish for enjoying Cool Ranch Doritos.
To make epic nachos:
- Layer tortilla chips on a baking sheet.
- Top with shredded cheese, like a Mexican blend or cheddar.
- Add desired toppings, like seasoned ground beef, shredded chicken, beans, salsa, olives, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, guacamole, sour cream, etc.
- Bake at 350°F until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven, top with chopped green onions and crushed Cool Ranch Doritos.
- Serve immediately.
For a quick microwave version, layer chips, cheese, and toppings on a microwave-safe plate and microwave until cheese melts. Then top with crushed Doritos. Enjoy this Tex-Mex treat any time!
Salads
Cool Ranch Doritos can add crunch and zing to salads too. Simply crumble them over any salad you love for an extra flavor burst in each bite.
Some salads that pair well with Doritos:
- Taco salad – Top with crushed Doritos.
- Chicken Caesar salad – Garnish with crumbled Doritos.
- Southwest salad – Top with black beans, corn, avocado, shredded cheese, and Doritos.
- Cobb salad – Sprinkle on crumbled bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomato, turkey, cheese, and Doritos.
- Chef’s salad – Add to the ham, turkey, cheese, hard-boiled egg, and vegetables.
The boldness of the Cool Ranch flavor and crunch stands up well against robust salad ingredients. Make the Doritos part of the salad topping for maximum flavor in every crunchy bite.
Baked Snacks and Casseroles
For heartier creations, incorporate Cool Ranch Doritos into casseroles, pasta bakes, and sheet pan nachos. The chips maintain their crunch and add zest to cheesy, saucy baked dishes.
Some yummy baked recipes with Doritos:
- Cheesy Dorito chicken casserole
- Doritos chili pie
- Zesty Dorito mac and cheese
- Supreme nachos with ground beef, beans, salsa, and Doritos
- Cheesy Dorito skillet with ground beef, tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices, and Cheddar
Sprinkle crushed Doritos over enchiladas or tamales before baking for extra crunch too. Let your imagination run wild with zesty casserole creations.
Fun Desserts
Believe it or not, Cool Ranch Doritos can make tasty desserts too. Their salty crunch balances sweet flavors beautifully. Dip them in chocolate for party treats or incorporate them whole or crushed into cookies, brownies and more.
| Dessert | Preparation |
|---|---|
| Chocolate-dipped Doritos | Dip whole Cool Ranch Doritos in melted chocolate, let set on wax paper. |
| Doritos cookies | Mix crushed Doritos into cookie dough before baking. |
| Doritos brownies | Fold crushed Doritos into brownie batter before baking. |
| Doritos cereal treats | Add whole or crushed Doritos when preparing crispy rice cereal treats. |
| Doritos bark | Top bark made of chocolate and butterscotch chips with whole Cool Ranch Doritos before cooling. |
The iconic Doritos flavors transform ordinary desserts into fun crowd-pleasers.
Conclusion
Cool Ranch Doritos are the perfect base for an endless variety of fantastic snacks and meals. Their bold, zesty flavor pairs well with salsas, guacamole, meats, cheeses, tacos, nachos, burgers, trail mixes, salads, casseroles, and even desserts. With their crispy crunch and taste of cool ranch, they make any dish more fun and delicious. Use your imagination to come up with your own awesome recipe creations featuring everyone’s favorite Doritos.