Taco Pasta Salad
This Taco Pasta Salad is bursting with seasoned taco beef, tangy lime dressing, melty Mexican cheese, and crunchy Doritos crumbled right on top. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser waiting to happen.
Everything you love about taco night tossed together with pasta for a dish that is bold, filling, and endlessly craveable. It comes together in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or last-minute cookout invites. Plus, that crushed Doritos garnish takes it from great to unforgettable.
Helpful Tips
- Cool your pasta completely: Rinsing the rotini under cold water after cooking stops it from getting mushy and keeps it from wilting the lettuce and other fresh veggies once everything is tossed together.
- Add the Doritos right before serving: Crushed chips can get soggy fast, so hold off on sprinkling them over the top until you are ready to dig in, or serve them on the side for guests to add themselves.
- Make the dressing ahead: The lime and taco seasoning dressing actually gets better as the flavors meld, so feel free to mix it up a day in advance and store it in the fridge until you are ready to toss the salad.
You Might Also Like These
Taco Pasta Salad
This Taco Pasta Salad is bursting with seasoned taco beef, tangy lime dressing, melty Mexican cheese, and crunchy Doritos crumbled right on top.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces tri-color rotini
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 package taco seasoning + water
- 15 ounce black beans rinsed and drained
- 15 ounce sweet corn
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup black olives halved
- 1 small green bell pepper chopped
- 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 cup Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce shredded
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon water
- Nacho Doritos crushed, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions, until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to cool down the pasta.
- Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess grease. Add the taco seasoning and water (see packet instructions for instructions).
- Add the beef, pasta, black beans, corn, tomatoes, olives, peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, cheese and lettuce to a large serving bowl. Toss to combine.
- In a jar, combine the mayonnaise, taco seasoning, lime juice and water. Shake until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Garnish with crushed Doritos.
Nutrition
Calories: 410kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 21gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 696mgPotassium: 565mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 803IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
