How To: Clone Taco Bell's Doritos Locos Tacos at Home

Doritos Locos Tacos were the brilliant concoction of a man named Todd Mills who never worked for Taco Bell, and never made any money from his creation. He originally pitched the idea to Frito-Lay, and when they said no, he took matters into his own hands by creating a Facebook page.

Taco Bell noticed the page, decided to go ahead with the idea, and flew Mills out to their test kitchen in 2012 to try them out before the release. In the first 10 months alone, the company sold over 100 million Doritos Locos Tacos and made more than a billion dollars, making them the most successful product launch in Taco Bell's history.

Unfortunately, Mills passed away on Thanksgiving last year, but his ingenious culinary creation still lives on. Doritos Locos Tacos now have a permanent place on Taco Bell's menu, but thanks to a few crafty food bloggers, you don't even have to visit the chain to try them.

DIY Doritos Locos Tacos Method #1: The Lazy Way

For the quick and easy version, grab some pre-made crunchy shells, a packet of taco seasoning, and a packet of that orange cheese powder that comes with boxed mac and cheese. Brush the taco shells with honey water, mix the two powdered seasonings together, and sprinkle them on the shells.

Place the shells on a baking sheet and stick them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 4 to 8 minutes, just enough to toast them. Grab all your fillings while the shells are baking and when they come out, they're ready to stuff.

DIY Doritos Locos Tacos Method #2: The Tastier Way

If you've got some time on your hands, you can try a more homemade approach with even better results. Jasmin of 1 Fine Cookie made tortillas from scratch and came up with her own blend of spices to get as close as possible to a real, authentic Doritos taste. Check out the full written guide on her blog for the recipe (and scrumptious step-by-step photos), or watch Jasmin in Hilah Cooking's video recipe below.

Now that you have your own Doritos Locos Taco shells, you'll want to get that signature meat filling taste. Check out our full guide to cloning the Taco Bell meat seasoning for instructions. If you're not in the mood for tacos, you can always try making McDonald's Bic Mac, Egg McMuffin, McRibs, and French Fries, or KFC's crispy fried chicken.

Have you experimented with your own homemade Doritos Locos Tacos concoctions? Share your experiences below (with pics, please).