Taco Pasta Salad
A flavorful, easy-to-make pasta salad combining taco-seasoned ground beef, pasta, fresh vegetables, cheese, and a creamy dressing, perfect for potlucks or quick dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes (including chill time)
- Yield: 8 1x
- Method: Salad
- Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups dried rotini pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup Catalina dressing
- 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and cool.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning to the beef and mix well. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, taco-seasoned beef, cherry tomatoes, green onions, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and Catalina dressing. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Just before serving, fold in the crushed Doritos and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
For a crispier texture, add the crushed Doritos just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy. You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef if preferred. Catalina dressing adds a unique sweet and tangy flavor, but ranch or your favorite creamy dressing can be used as an alternative.
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Find it online: https://www.receipster.com/taco-pasta-salad/