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Ultimate Creamy Taco Pasta Salad: Crowd-Pleaser for Potlucks and Weeknights

A close-up serving of creamy taco pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and black olives.
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Make this hearty, cold Tex-Mex pasta salad featuring seasoned ground beef, crisp vegetables, and a creamy ranch dressing. It is a quick, satisfying dish perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, or a simple weeknight dinner. You can prepare this make-ahead pasta salad easily.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 1 cup crushed tortilla chips or Doritos (optional, for topping)

Instructions

  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to cool it down completely. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Stir the taco seasoning mix and water into the cooked ground beef. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from heat and let the seasoned beef cool completely.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ranch dressing, sour cream, lime juice, cumin, and chili powder to create the creamy dressing.
  5. In a very large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooled seasoned beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, black olives, and red onion.
  6. Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss everything gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
  7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to blend. This is a great make-ahead pasta salad.
  8. Just before serving, sprinkle the crushed tortilla chips or Doritos over the top for crunch, if using. Serve cold.

Notes

  • For a tangier dressing, substitute half of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt.
  • You can prepare the beef and the dressing up to one day in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator.
  • If you are taking this to a potluck, keep the crunchy topping separate and add it right before serving to prevent sogginess.
  • This recipe works well with other pasta shapes like penne or shells.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/taco-pasta-salad-ultimate-creamy-recipe/