This irresistible Taco Pasta Salad recipe is bursting with vibrant colors and bold flavor. This dish combines tender pasta with zesty homemade taco seasoning, creamy sour cream, and tangy ranch dressing. From there, it’s topped with a generous sprinkle of grated cheese and crispy tortilla strips. This is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or easy weeknight dinners.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Flavorful Twist: Taco pasta salad combines the flavors of traditional tacos with the comforting elements of pasta salad, offering a unique twist.
- Easy to Customize: You can adjust the ingredients and seasonings to create a salad that’s perfect for your preferences.
- Simple to Make: This recipe doesn’t require any complicated cooking techniques. It’s a great option for busy weeknights or when you’re short on time but still want a satisfying meal.
- Make-Ahead Option: This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it. It’s a convenient option for meal prep or for packing lunches for the week.
Key Ingredients
- Pasta
- Ground Beef
- Diced Tomatoes and Chilies (Rotel)
- Onions
- Ranch Dressing
- Sour Cream
- Homemade Taco Seasoning or store-bought
What Type of Pasta to Use
You should use a pasta shape that can hold the dressing and mix well with the other ingredients. Here are some options:
- Rotini: With its corkscrew shape, is a popular choice for pasta salads. Its twists and turns help to capture the dressing and ingredients, ensuring that each bite is flavorful and well-coated.
- Penne: Penne has tubular shape and ridges. The nooks and crannies hold onto the dressing and other ingredients, providing great texture and flavor in every bite.
- Farfalle (Bowtie): It has a unique shape and its flat surface allows it to hold onto the dressing and other ingredients.
- Fusilli: I see this shape at Trader Joe’s a lot. Its twists and turns hold onto the dressing and ingredients.
What Type of Meat to Use
I used ground beef because it’s a classic choice that adds savory flavor and texture to the salad. Here are more options:
- Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs
- Rotisserie Chicken
- Ground Turkey
- Shrimp
- Salmon
- Smoked Pulled Pork
- Tofu
How to Make Taco Pasta Salad
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Use the same pot used for the pasta or use a skillet and place the pot/pan on medium-high heat. Add the diced onions.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground beef.
- Cook until the beef is fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Add all of the spices/seasoning and diced tomatoes and chilies. Stir.
- Add the sour cream (or yogurt) and salad dressing to a large serving bowl.
- Add in cooked pasta, ground beef, and grated cheese. Stir to combine.
More Salad Dressing Ideas
- Creamy Avocado Dressing: You can typically find store-bought versions at the grocery store. To make your own, blend ripe avocados with lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and a touch of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing: Mix ranch dressing with pureed chipotle peppers in adobo sauce for a smoky, spicy kick that pairs well with the taco-inspired ingredients. Check out my Southwest Salad Dressing recipe.
- Salsa Verde Dressing: Combine salsa verde with lime juice, olive oil, and a touch of honey or agave syrup for a tangy and flavorful dressing that adds a zesty punch to the salad.
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
- Taco Sauce: Use store-bought or homemade taco sauce as a quick and easy dressing option. It adds a bold and savory flavor with hints of chili, cumin, and garlic.
- Sour Cream and Salsa: Mix equal parts sour cream and salsa for a simple yet delicious dressing that provides creaminess and tanginess with a hint of spice.
More Substitutions and Vegetables You Can Add
- Homemade Guacamole
- Homemade Queso Cheese Dip
- Bell Peppers
- Black Beans
- Corn
- Avocado
- Jalapenos
- Olives
- Cilantro
- Lime
How Long Can The Salad Sit Out
It can sit out 1-2 hours. It takes about 2 hours for bacteria to start to grow to dangerous levels. In warm temperatures, that time shrinks. You can read the Food Safety Guidance from the FDA here. If you’re serving pasta salad at an event or picnic, consider keeping it chilled in an insulated cooler with ice packs to maintain a safe temperature.
Can You Make it Ahead/How Long it Will Last in the Fridge
If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, the salad can last for about 3-4 days. However, the quality will likely start to decline after the first day as the pasta becomes softer.
If you plan to reheat the dish or save leftovers, I recommend storing the pasta separate from the ground beef. I personally prefer warm ground beef with a chilled salad. I also recommend storing toppings like lettuce separate as well. Add your toppings when you serve the salad.
How to Keep it Creamy
If preparing the salad in advance, add the ingredients for the dressing just before serving to prevent the pasta from absorbing too much moisture and becoming dry. This will help maintain the creamy consistency of the salad.
If the salad seems dry after refrigeration, add a little more ranch and/or sour cream (plain Greek yogurt) and gently toss to coat. Avoid adding too much dressing at once to prevent the salad from becoming overly wet.
Can You Freeze It?
You can freeze it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. In general, ranch, yogurt, and sour cream do not freeze well and usually develops ice crystals.
More Salad Recipes
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Seafood Pasta Salad with Shrimp and Crab
Salmon Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
You may love our Cheeseburger Tacos recipe.
Taco Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup diced onions I used red onions.
- 15.5 oz canned diced chilies and tomatoes Drained.
- 1 cup grated cheese Cheddar, Cheddar Jack, or Monterey Jack Cheese.
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4-1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
- shredded lettuce
- tortilla strips or crushed chips
Homemade Taco Seasoning (You can also use store-bought seasoning blends if you wish).
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper Optional for spicy.
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in accordance with the instructions on the package.
- Rinse the pasta in cold water and dry completely.
- Use the same pot used for the pasta or use a skillet and place the pot/pan on medium-high heat. Add the diced onions.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add the ground beef.
- Use a meat chopper or spoon to break down the ground beef. Cook until the beef is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
- Add all of the spices/seasoning and diced tomatoes and chilies. Stir.
- Add the sour cream (or yogurt) and salad dressing to a large serving bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add in the cooked pasta, ground beef, and grated cheese. Stir to combine. Taste repeatedly and adjust the spices, salt, and pepper as necessary.
- Top with lettuce, tortilla strips, and any of your other favorite toppings.