Go Back
–+ servings
Beef Taco Pasta Salad

Beef Taco Pasta Salad: A Quick & Flavorful Family Fiesta

This Beef Taco Pasta Salad is a quick, delicious dish combining seasoned beef, pasta, and fresh veggies, making it a family favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 1 lb Ground Beef use 80/20 for the best flavor
  • 1 packet Taco Seasoning McCormick brand recommended
  • 8 oz Rotini Pasta cook al dente
  • 1 medium Jalapeño adjust amount for spice preference
  • 2 medium Roma Tomatoes chop into bite-sized pieces
  • 15.25 oz Corn drain well before adding
  • 1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper chop into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup Yellow Onion finely diced
  • 2 cups Cheddar Cheese shredded
  • 15 oz Black Beans drain and rinse before using
For the Dressing
  • 1.25 cups Catalina Dressing Kraft's classic flavor preferred
For the Crunch
  • 9.25 oz Nacho Doritos crush and add just before serving
  • 1 cup Iceberg Lettuce optional garnish

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Colander
  • large skillet
  • cutting board
  • spatula
  • mixing bowl

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Cook rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water; let cool.
  2. Prepare vegetables: dice jalapeño, chop tomatoes, red bell pepper, and finely dice onion. Shred cheddar cheese.
  3. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Drain fat, add taco seasoning, and mix until coated.
  4. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, seasoned beef, vegetables, corn, black beans, and cheddar cheese. Mix well.
  5. Pour Catalina dressing over the salad mixture and toss to combine. Adjust dressing to taste.
  6. Right before serving, add crushed Doritos on top and fold gently. Optional: serve over iceberg lettuce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 25gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 15mg

Notes

This salad is perfect for make-ahead meals and tastes even better after chilling in the fridge.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!