Print

Quick Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 75 reviews

This Quick Taco Pasta Salad combines savory seasoned ground beef, al dente rotini pasta, crunchy fresh vegetables, melted cheddar jack cheese, and tangy French dressing, all topped with crispy Doritos for an irresistible Tex-Mex inspired dish that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, or easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasoning

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 4 tbsp taco seasoning (McCormick’s Mild preferred)
  • 1/4 cup water (for simmering beef)

Pasta

  • 14 oz rotini pasta

Vegetables

  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 16 oz grape tomatoes, halved
  • 3 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives

Cheese and Dressing

  • 2.5 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese (Sargento preferred)
  • 12 oz French dressing (Wish-Bone preferred)

Crunch Topping

  • 9.75 oz Doritos, crushed into bite-sized pieces just before serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare Vegetables: Dice the green pepper into bite-sized pieces, chop the yellow onion into small dice, halve the grape tomatoes, and shred the iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Set aside the sliced black olives. Having all vegetables prepped will make assembly quick and easy.
  2. Cook Pasta and Beef Simultaneously: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart until no pink remains. Add the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water, stirring to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the seasoning coats the beef evenly. This simultaneous cooking ensures both components finish at the same time.
  3. Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, seasoned ground beef, prepped vegetables (green pepper, onion, tomatoes, lettuce), shredded cheddar jack cheese, and black olives. Toss gently but thoroughly to distribute all ingredients evenly.
  4. Add Dressing: Pour the French dressing over the salad mixture and toss again until everything is coated evenly with the dressing, ensuring balanced flavor throughout the salad.
  5. Finish with Crunch: Just before serving, crush the Doritos into bite-sized chunks and gently fold them into the salad. This step keeps the chips crunchy and prevents sogginess, adding a delightful texture contrast to the dish.

Notes

  • Use mild taco seasoning for balanced spice, or adjust according to your preferred heat level.
  • Cooking pasta al dente is important for maintaining texture in the salad.
  • Adding Doritos right before serving preserves their crunch.
  • This salad can be prepped ahead but add chips right before serving to avoid sogginess.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days but will lose some crispness.

Keywords: Taco pasta salad, ground beef pasta salad, Tex-Mex salad, easy pasta salad recipe, Doritos pasta salad

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/quick-taco-pasta-salad-recipe/