Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
This Taco Pasta Salad is a flavorful and hearty dish that combines classic taco ingredients with rotini pasta for a perfect blend of textures and tastes. Featuring seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, fresh cherry tomatoes, and a creamy Catalina dressing, it’s topped off with crunchy Nacho Cheese Doritos and crisp iceberg lettuce for a delightful taco-inspired twist on a traditional pasta salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Vegetables and Beans
- 15 ounces canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 ounces canned corn, drained
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
Dairy and Dressing
- 2 cups shredded Fiesta blend cheese
- 16 ounces Catalina dressing
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
Toppings
- 9 ounces Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the rotini according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the lean ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet. Add the taco seasoning to the beef and stir well, cooking until the seasoning liquid evaporates and the meat is well coated.
- Combine Main Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled rotini pasta, the seasoned ground beef, drained black beans, drained corn, halved cherry tomatoes, and shredded Fiesta blend cheese. Stir everything gently to mix evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the Catalina dressing and sour cream until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta and beef mixture. Gently toss to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Add Final Toppings: If serving immediately, sprinkle the crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos over the salad and top with shredded iceberg lettuce for added crunch and freshness. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- The salad can be made in advance and refrigerated; add Doritos and lettuce just before serving to keep them crisp.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- To make it spicier, add chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the ground beef and add extra beans and vegetables.
Keywords: taco pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, taco salad with pasta, ground beef taco salad, easy pasta salad, summer salad, potluck salad
Find it online: https://lieblingsmahlzeit.com/taco-pasta-salad-recipe/
