Description

This Taco Pasta Salad is a flavorful and hearty dish combining seasoned ground beef with al dente rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar cheese, and a tangy Catalina dressing. Finished with crunchy Nacho Doritos and optional iceberg lettuce garnish, it’s perfect for a quick lunch or a crowd-pleasing side at any gathering.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasoning

1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Pasta

8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions

Vegetables

1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded, finely diced
1 medium Roma tomato, finely diced
1 can (15.25 ounces) corn kernels, drained
½ cup (74.5 g) red bell pepper, finely diced
½ cup (80 g) yellow onion, diced

Dairy and Dressing

2 cups (226 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup (272 g) Catalina dressing

Crunchy Topping and Garnish

1 bag (9.25 ounces) Nacho Doritos, slightly crushed, reserving a few for topping
Diced iceberg lettuce (optional for garnish)

Instructions

Cook ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink, approximately 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to break the meat into small crumbles.
Season beef: Add the taco seasoning to the cooked beef and stir thoroughly to coat all the meat with the seasoning. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare pasta: Cook rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and let cool slightly.
Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the cooked pasta, diced jalapeño, Roma tomato, drained corn, red bell pepper, yellow onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and the seasoned taco meat. Pour the Catalina dressing over the mixture and toss gently to combine all ingredients well.
Add chips before serving: Just before serving, add the slightly crushed Nacho Doritos into the salad and toss lightly to distribute them without breaking them too much, maintaining a nice crunchy texture.
Garnish and serve: Garnish the salad with a few extra Doritos on top and optionally sprinkle diced iceberg lettuce for added freshness. Serve immediately to enjoy the perfect mix of textures and flavors.

Notes

For a spicier salad, include the seeds from the jalapeño or add more diced peppers.
To keep the Doritos crunchy, add them only right before serving.
This salad can be prepared a few hours ahead, but mixing in the chips should always be done last to prevent sogginess.
Use mild cheddar for a smooth, creamy flavor or substitute with sharp cheddar for extra tang.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days but chips may lose their crunch over time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: taco pasta salad, ground beef pasta salad, taco seasoning pasta salad, rotini salad, Catalina dressing salad, easy pasta salad, quick dinner salad