Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
This Taco Pasta Salad is a flavorful and hearty dish that combines rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a zesty Catalina dressing. Finished with crunchy nacho cheese Doritos and optional fresh cilantro, it’s perfect for parties, potlucks, or a satisfying weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 3 cups dried rotini pasta
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Dressing and Garnishes
- 1 cup Catalina dressing
- 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook while breaking the meat into small crumbles for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no pink remains.
- Add Seasoning: Stir in the taco seasoning packet with the browned beef until well combined. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Combine Ingredients: In a very large bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, seasoned ground beef, cherry tomatoes, sliced green onions, sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and Catalina dressing. Stir until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Add Final Touches and Serve: Just before serving, mix in the crushed nacho cheese Doritos and chopped cilantro if using. Serve immediately to preserve the crunch of the Doritos.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking helps to cool it quickly and prevents it from sticking together.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with cooked black beans or a plant-based meat alternative and omit the taco seasoning if it contains animal products.
- The Catalina dressing adds tanginess and a little sweetness; feel free to substitute with your favorite creamy salad dressing.
- Add the Doritos just before serving to keep their crunchy texture.
- The cilantro garnish is optional but adds a fresh, herbaceous note to the salad.
Keywords: Taco Pasta Salad, pasta salad, taco seasoning, ground beef salad, party salad, rotini pasta, Catalina dressing, nacho cheese Doritos
Find it online: https://recipeswithmia.com/taco-pasta-salad-recipe/
