Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
A flavorful and easy-to-make Taco Pasta Salad combining seasoned ground beef, rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and tangy Catalina dressing. Perfect as a hearty side dish or a light main course for gatherings and quick weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
Beef and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning (1 package)
Vegetables and Cheese
- 3 cups shredded lettuce
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: In a large saucepan, cook rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Place the pasta in a bowl, cover it, and set aside.
- Cook the beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease. Cover the cooked beef and set it aside to cool.
- Combine pasta and beef with seasoning: In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta and cooled ground beef. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the mixture and stir thoroughly to coat both the pasta and beef with the seasoning.
- Add vegetables, cheese, and dressing: To the bowl with the pasta and beef mixture, add shredded lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped yellow onion, and chopped green bell pepper. Drizzle the Catalina dressing over the top and mix everything thoroughly until well combined.
- Serve: Serve the taco pasta salad chilled or at room temperature as desired. It works well as a side dish or a standalone meal.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Substitute ground turkey for ground beef to reduce fat content.
- Use low-fat cheddar cheese and dressing for a lighter version.
- Add extras like black beans, corn, or sliced olives for more texture and flavor.
- Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or casual weeknight dinners.
Keywords: Taco Pasta Salad, Tex-Mex pasta salad, rotini taco salad, ground beef pasta salad, Catalina dressing pasta salad
Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/taco-pasta-salad-recipe/
