Imagine all your favorite taco night flavors, seasoned beef, melty cheese, crunchy Doritos, tossed together with pasta in one big, colorful bowl. It’s the kind of dish that disappears at every potluck before you even get a chance to take a second helping.
You’re going to love this Taco Pasta Salad because it’s a genius mashup of two crowd favorites that somehow makes both even better. It’s endlessly customizable, so you can dial the jalapenos up or down depending on your crowd. And the crushed Dorito topping adds the perfect crunch that takes this from good to absolutely addictive.
Helpful Tips
- Cool the pasta completely: Rinse the cooked rotini under cold water until it’s no longer warm, since adding warm pasta to the salad can wilt the lettuce and melt the cheese too soon.
- Add the Doritos right before serving: Sprinkle the crushed chips on top just before you serve the salad, since they’ll go soft if they sit in the dressing for too long.
- Adjust the heat to taste: Start with less pickled jalapeno than the recipe calls for if you’re serving a crowd with mixed spice preferences, then let people add more at the table.
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Taco Pasta Salad
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
Angela’s passion for discovering and experimenting with new flavors and recipes is at the heart of her culinary philosophy. Residing in a quaint Oregon town, she finds joy and inspiration in her kitchen. Angela has a lot of expertise in cooking and she eagerly shares her discoveries and unique creations with you.