Description
Taco Pasta Salad is a fun and flavorful twist on traditional pasta salads. With a combination of seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, shredded cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips, it’s the perfect dish for potlucks, BBQs, or casual family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz rotini pasta (or other medium-sized noodle)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1.5 cups chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
- 2–3 cups Mexican-style shredded cheese
- 4 cups shredded lettuce
- 15 oz French dressing
- 3 cups slightly crushed nacho cheese or tortilla chips
- Chopped cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat, stir in taco seasoning, and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooked ground beef, chopped tomatoes, diced green bell pepper, shredded cheese, and shredded lettuce.
- Pour in the French dressing and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Just before serving, mix in the crushed nacho cheese or tortilla chips for added crunch.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- For added flavor, use spicy taco seasoning or hot sauce.
- This salad can be made ahead of time, but add the chips just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg