Taco Pasta Salad

Taco pasta salad in my opinion is better than regular taco salad (pasta makes everything better). It features spicy ground beef, fresh veggies, shredded cheese, and Doritos over a bed of pasta topped with a creamy and tangy dressing.

Info and tips for taco pasta salad

The best part about this recipe is you can add any of your favourite taco toppings. I opted for some ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, jalapenos, and crushed Doritos, but some other great additions could be ground chicken or pork, beans, corn, onions, or avocado!

The dressing can also be changed up if needed. For sour cream a good addition is Greek yogurt. Catalina dressing can be switched out for French dressing or Thousand Island dressing. If cilantro isn’t your thing, parsley can be used instead, or your favourite fresh herb.

Equipment

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I used this Acacia Wood Serving Bowl for the taco pasta salad.

Ingredients for taco pasta salad

• 400g pasta of choice
• 500g ground beef
• 1 taco seasoning bag
• 2 cups chopped lettuce
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 and a 1/2 cups shredded cheese
• 2 cups crushed Doritos
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup Catalina dressing
• 1 lime juiced
• 3/4 cup chopped cilantro
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Start by cooking your pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Strain and set aside with a drizzle of oil to prevent sticking.
2. Cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning and salt & pepper until browned.
3. Meanwhile chop the lettuce, slice the cherry tomatoes in half, de seed and slice the jalapeno, shred the cheese, and crush the Doritos.
4. Add cooked pasta to a large bowl with the cooked ground beef, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, shredded cheese, and Doritos.
5. Make the dressing by combining the sour cream, Catalina dressing, lime juice, cilantro and salt & pepper.
6. Pour the dressing over top and mix well. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

See below for a video tutorial!

If you liked this recipe be sure to check out my:

• Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Double Baked Loaded Sweet Potatoes
• Bang Bang Shrimp Tostadas

Print Recipe

Taco Pasta Salad

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Pastas

By Kenna's Cooks – Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Cooking Time: 15 minutes – Total Time: 25 minutes

Taco pasta salad features spicy ground beef, fresh veggies, shredded cheese, and Doritos over a bed of pasta topped with a creamy and tangy dressing.

Ingredients

• 400g pasta of choice
• 500g ground beef
• 1 taco seasoning bag
• 2 cups chopped lettuce
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 and a 1/2 cups shredded cheese
• 2 cups crushed Doritos
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup Catalina dressing
• 1 lime juiced
• 3/4 cup chopped cilantro
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1

Start by cooking your pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Strain and set aside with a drizzle of oil to prevent sticking.

2

Cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning and salt & pepper until browned.

3

Meanwhile chop the lettuce, slice the cherry tomatoes in half, de seed and slice the jalapeno, shred the cheese, and crush the Doritos.

4

Add cooked pasta to a large bowl with the cooked ground beef, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno, shredded cheese, and Doritos.

5

Make the dressing by combining the sour cream, Catalina dressing, lime juice, cilantro and salt & pepper.

6

Pour the dressing over top and mix well. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Substitutions: ground chicken for ground beef, Greek yogurt for sour cream, parsley for cilantro.