Two great salads in one.
Summer is a great time for salads. Pasta salad is one of my favorites, because it’s quick, healthy, and filling enough to make a whole meal. But I also really love taco salad, because it’s so hearty and full of zesty Mexican spice.
So I figured, why decide between the two? Why not make both at once?
This Easy Taco Pasta Salad has all the features of a great taco salad – seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and crushed corn chips. But instead of being served in a crispy tortilla shell, it’s all tossed with pasta and some extra veggies and dressing – just like a pasta salad.
The result is the best of taco salad and pasta salad in one. It’s got meat and cheese, veggies and starch, all tossed together with that spicy taco seasoning. It’s everything you could possibly want in a salad, all in one bowl.
Easy Taco Pasta Salad
- Cook beef in a pan over medium high heat. Once meat starts to brown, add in the taco seasoning. Once cooked, drain access grease and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a pot, cook the rotini according to package directions. When pasta is cooked, drain and run cool water over it to cool.
- In a large bowl, add together all ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Serve immediately.
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Easy Taco Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb rotini pasta
- 2 Tablespoons Taco seasoning, I use my famous taco seasoning
- ½ sweet pepper, yellow, chopped
- ¼ small onion, diced
- ½ pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup cheddar, shredded
- ½ head iceberg lettuce, some stores carry iceberg already shredded
- ½ cup French dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cup nacho cheese Doritos, crushed roughly
Instructions
- Cook beef in a pan over medium high heat. Once meat starts to brown, add in the taco seasoning. Once cooked, drain access grease and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a pot, cook the rotini according to package directions. When pasta is cooked, drain and run cool water over it to cool.
- In a large bowl, add together all ingredients and mix until well combined.
Video
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Post Updated August 2020
Marcy says
Hi! This recipe looks really good, and I’ve shared it with few of my friends, who all agree with me. Can you tell me about how big a serving is? Thanks! 🙂
Corey says
It depends if you are using this as a main dish or a side salad? I would say it would serve 8-10 side salads, and 4-6 full meal servings.
Marcy says
Thank you!
Chris says
If I use the preshredded lettuce, do you have any idea how much would be equal to 1/2 head of iceberg lettuce?
Kayla Dale says
I used an 8 oz bag of shredded lettuce and it was the perfect amount 😊
Brenda Reitz says
I watched the video but didnt see when you put the sour cream in that is listed in the ingredients , what does that get mixed with ??
Corey says
Hi Brenda! It’s always best to follow the written direction, as the videos are super quick versions of the recipe. As indicated in Step 3 of the recipe, you add all ingredients together at that point, including the sour cream. I hope that helps 🙂
Jean says
Looks delicious. What other dressing would be a good substitute for the French? I’m trying to think what would work with those food combinations.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Kayla Dale says
I made it using salsa ranch and it was really good! 😊
Corey says
Love that idea of using salsa ranch! Yum!
EllisK says
Wonderful recipe and looks delish but if you want to save a few calories skip the French dressing and use salsa or picante sauce.
Thanks for sharing.
Lenore says
Do you know how many calories there are per serving? Thanks!
Melaney says
I used to make this all the time in the early ’70’s. We didn’t have nacho Doritos but did use crushed tortilla chips and also sliced black olives. Used Kraft Catalina dressing (like French dressing).
Corey says
I will have to give the Catalina dressing a try next time I make it 🙂
Wendy Ellingson says
I changed the dressing to spicy ranch mixed with taco sauce-👌
Barb Quartier says
I watched the video and it doesn’t show you adding the sour cream, but you have sour cream in the recipe. When do you add it? Can’t wait to try it.
Corey says
You add that in during step 3 in the recipe.
Nicole says
My grocery store didn’t have French so I subbed Catalina dressing and used Mexican crema instead of sour cream – turned out amazing! If making ahead add the chips just before serving – they got a little soggy but overall still a huge potluck hit.
Carrie says
Can I make with no meat?