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Best Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

This best taco pasta salad recipe is a bold and flavorful twist on the classic pasta salad—perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick family dinner. Loaded with seasoned beef, crunchy veggies, and cheesy goodness, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1 pound ground beef cooked and drained
  • 1 pound rotini pasta cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water
  • 3 tbsp taco seasoning or 1 oz packet
  • 1 piece green bell pepper diced small
  • 1 small yellow onion diced small
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
  • 3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 1.5 cups French dressing
  • 9.75 oz Nacho Doritos crushed

Method
 

  1. In a skillet, cook and drain the ground beef. Stir in the taco seasoning until evenly coated.
  2. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the seasoned beef, cooked rotini, diced green pepper, diced onion, halved grape tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese.
  3. Pour in the French dressing and mix until everything is well coated.
  4. Just before serving, stir in the crushed Doritos for a crunchy texture.
  5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey or black beans for beef, use a low-fat dressing, and swap in baked tortilla chips.