A fun twist on two classic recipes, this Taco Pasta Salad is made with rotini, ground beef, and your favorite taco toppings tossed with seasoning and French dressing. Doritos are added for extra flavor and crunch. A guaranteed family favorite!
Easy Taco Pasta Salad
What do you get when you combine ground beef tacos with classic pasta salad? This easy taco pasta salad! With rotini, ground beef, taco seasoning, beans, tomatoes, and more tossed in French dressing, this recipe combines the best of both recipes.
And then, to make it extra special, I add Doritos just before serving. The Doritos add some flavor but, most importantly, some crunchy texture. (Plus the kids think it’s cool to eat Doritos for dinner!)
We have a huge list of pasta salad recipes we’ve been saving. You’ll be able to find a new one for every BBQ you attend this summer! Two other favorites of mine are Tortellini Pasta Salad and The Best Creamy Pasta Salad.
Why You’ll Love This Pasta Taco Salad
This recipe has been a huge hit with the whole family. Here are a few reasons why!
- Fun twist on classics. This dish is a combination of two of our family dinners – tacos and pasta salad. So naturally the two combined is a dish we can’t get enough of!
- Quick and easy. This salad is as simple as browning the beef while the pasta is boiling and then tossing everything together in a bowl.
- Bursting with flavor. Between the taco seasoning, French dressing, and Doritos, there is no shortage of flavor in this recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this pasta taco salad. You can find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
- Pasta – I like to use rotini but you can use any short pasta, such as penne or farfalle.
- Ground beef – You could also use ground turkey.
- Taco seasoning – I love to use my homemade taco seasoning in this recipe.
- Chili beans – Add some extra substance to the salad.
- Veggies – Cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and green onions.
- Shredded cheese – I like to use a Mexican blend but regular cheddar or Colby jack work too.
- French dressing – Using a bottle of French dressing keeps things simple while adding lots of flavor. You can also use Catalina dressing.
- Nacho Doritos – The secret ingredient!
How To Make Taco Pasta Salad
This taco pasta salad recipe comes together in a few easy steps. You can find printable instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Make the pasta. Cook the pasta noodles to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain.
- Cook the beef. While the pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef. Drain any excess grease.
- Combine the ingredients. Combine all ingredients, except for the Doritos, in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
- Add the Doritos. Just before serving, stir in the crushed Doritos.
Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips & variations for making the best taco pasta salad.
- Add your favorite taco ingredients. Feel free to add in black olives or other taco toppings that you prefer. Avocado is a great addition but be sure to add it just before serving.
- Add some heat. To make this a bit spicier, add some diced jalapenos or stir in some cayenne pepper to the taco seasoning.
- Switch up the chips. Try using Cool Ranch Doritos or classic tortilla chips for a different flavor.
- Add the chips just before serving. You want the chips to have some crunch to them and the dressing will soften them quickly. I recommend waiting to add the chips until serving.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make this taco pasta salad in advance. However, I would hold off on adding the dressing until the day you’re going to be serving it and, of course, the Doritos should still be added just before serving. Keep in mind that lettuce does wilt easily, so you may want to wait to add that as well.
Serving Suggestions
My sons love to enjoy this taco pasta salad as a meal. With pasta, meat, beans, and veggies, it is pretty filling! Plus if you serve it cold, it makes a refreshing dinner on a hot summer day.
It also makes a great side salad and has been a hit at every summer BBQ I’ve made it for. It pairs perfectly with burgers, hot dogs, and grilled chicken.
Proper Storage
Store leftover pasta taco salad covered with plastic or in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep in mind that the Doritos will soften quickly once they’re added to the salad.
More Side Salad Recipes To Try
Taco Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef browned
- 1 box rotini pasta cooked and rinsed
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 can chili beans
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 head iceberg lettuce shredded
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1 1/2 cup French dressing
- 1 bag nacho cheese Doritos lightly crushed
- sour cream and extra green onions for garnish
Instructions
Directions:
- In a large bowl, toss together the ground beef, pasta, taco seasoning, chili beans, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, green onions, and french dressing.
- When ready to serve, stir in the Doritos. (Wait til you are ready to serve to stir in the Doritos or they will get soggy.)
Last Step:
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12 comments on “Doritos Taco Pasta Salad”
My family loved this recipe. Will add it to my once per week menu. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Nita!
What size bag of Doritos?
What size bag of Doritos?
Hi Karen. This recipe uses the standard size bag. I believe it’s 9.25 oz. Not the individual or party size.
This sounded so good. I am making it for my dinner! The only thing i changed was instead of using the rotini pasta, i used the bow tie pasta.
This looks delicious and I want to try it!!! My question is, do you drain the chili beans or is the bean liquid part of the pasta salad “dressing?”
I haven’t tried this salad but sounds delicious. My husband doesn’t care for cold pasta,so I was thinking he could probably heat his up. What do you think?
Sure that may work, but you may want to leave the lettuce out.
Catalina dressing is very good in taco salad
Sounds good except for the French dressing. Not sure what I would prefer, but never liked French.
Great recipe, have you ever thought of switching the French dressing to a good southwest style salsa? The salsa I mean is the type that has corn and sometimes beans as ingredients. It will lighten the salad up a bit and the flavor is a little more authentic.