Doritos Sizzling Beef Taco Tortilla Chips, 180g

Taco night in a bag: Doritos Sizzling Beef Taco puts the spices of a beef taco on a corn tortilla chip. This is the 180g sharing bag, which the label divides into six 30g servings. The full product name on the pack is Sizzling Beef Taco Flavour Corn Chips.

A taco spice mix, no beef

According to the published pack listing, the chips are made from corn (maize), rapeseed oil, a sizzling beef taco flavour seasoning and antioxidants (rosemary extract, ascorbic acid, a tocopherol rich extract and citric acid).

The seasoning lists onion powder, flavourings, salt, potassium chloride, sugar, garlic powder, dried parsley, citric acid, dried spices (cumin and coriander) and paprika extract for colour. Nothing on that list is meat, and the pack says the chips are suitable for vegetarians. The beefy impression comes from the flavourings and the savoury base of onion and garlic, while the taco character comes from the spices.

Why cumin and coriander say taco

Cumin and coriander are the backbone of most taco seasoning mixes. Cumin brings a warm, earthy, slightly smoky note; ground coriander seed adds a citrusy, floral lift. Together with onion, garlic and a little paprika, they give the flavour you smell when mince is browning for tacos or a chilli. Dried parsley adds a green, fresh note, much as chopped coriander leaf does on top of a real taco, and citric acid gives the squeeze of lime.

No added MSG

The pack states no added MSG, and none is listed. The savoury depth comes from onion, which leads the seasoning, garlic, the flavourings and salt, with potassium chloride sharing the salty work.

The lowest salt Doritos we stock

Per 100g the label gives 0.8g of salt, the lowest figure among the Doritos in our range. Per 30g serving that is 0.24g, about 4% of an average adult's daily reference intake. The rest of the panel per serving reads 144 kcal, 6.7g of fat, 0.6g of saturates, 18g of carbohydrate, 0.5g of sugars, 1.7g of fibre and 1.9g of protein. Per 100g it is 480 kcal, 22g of fat, 2.1g of saturates, 60g of carbohydrate, 1.6g of sugars and 5.7g of fibre.

Reading the colours on the front

On the UK front of pack scale, per 100g, fat at 22g is red, above the 17.5g threshold. Saturates at 2.1g are amber. Sugars at 1.6g are green; this seasoning has sugar well down the list. Salt at 0.8g is amber, towards the lower end of the band.

Allergens and diet

No allergens from the UK list of 14 are highlighted in the published ingredients. The allergy advice says the chips may contain cereals containing gluten, milk and soya. The pack says they are suitable for vegetarians, with no added MSG and no artificial colours. No vegan claim is made, and with milk in the may contain advice we would not describe them as vegan; no gluten free claim is made. Recipes and factory arrangements change, so check the allergy advice on the pack you receive.

How the chips are made

Corn dough is rolled thin, cut into triangles and cooked in rapeseed oil until crisp. The seasoning is dusted over the warm chips, and the pack says the bag is packaged in a protective atmosphere, which keeps oxygen away from the oil until it is opened. The pack names Walkers Snack Foods Ltd as the maker.

Why onion leads

Onion powder is the first ingredient in the seasoning, ahead of the flavourings and salt. That gives the chips a sweet, savoury base that tastes like onions softened in a pan, the starting point of most taco fillings. It also explains why the flavour reads as savoury and rounded even without added MSG.

In the kitchen

Crushed, these chips make a taco style crumb for a baked chicken breast or a topping for a bean chilli. For a quick lunch, layer crushed chips, black beans, sweetcorn, grated cheese and salsa in a bowl, and add soured cream on top.

Taco night

These chips suit the table they are named after. Serve them beside tacos or burritos, crush a handful over a taco salad, or use them for nachos: chips on a tray, grated cheese on top, grilled until melted, then salsa, soured cream and sliced spring onion. The spice is warm rather than hot; no chilli is listed, so they are a good choice for guests who want flavour without heat. For a table with mixed tastes, put a bowl of Doritos Chilli Heatwave beside them for the people who want a kick, and label both bowls.

After opening, and relatives

The pack advises storing the bag in a cool, dry place and eating it within three days of opening. In the same 180g size we stock Doritos Tangy Cheese, Cool Original and Chilli Heatwave, and for real heat there is Doritos Extra Flamin' Hot at 163g.

Other 180g packs of Doritos we stock

Figures as published on each pack's label.

The published listing gives the United Kingdom as the country of origin. The tasting notes on this page are our own editorial assessment against the current pack format and the brand's published description.