Taco Pasta Salad

Transform your taco night into a refreshing summer favorite with this irresistible Taco Pasta Salad! Featuring tender rotini pasta, taco-seasoned ground beef, black beans, and vibrant cherry tomatoes, this dish is packed with bold Tex-Mex flavors and hearty ingredients. The creamy dressing, made with sour cream, mayonnaise, tangy lime juice, and fresh cilantro, ties it all together, creating a perfect balance of zesty and savory. Topped with crunchy tortilla chips for added texture, this versatile recipe works wonderfully as a side dish, a potluck centerpiece, or a satisfying main course. Ready in just 35 minutes and full of crowd-pleasing goodness, this taco-inspired twist on pasta salad is sure to become a family favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz rotini pasta
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup tortilla chips, crushed (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.

Step 3

Add the taco seasoning and water to the cooked beef. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, taco-seasoned beef, black beans, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cilantro, and sliced green onions.

Step 5

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 7

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, sprinkle crushed tortilla chips on top for garnish, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2155.4 grams (2155.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4757

Total Fat 261.70g	336%
Saturated Fat 83.60g	418%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 617mg	206%
Sodium 9342mg	406%
Total Carbohydrate 440.00g	160%
Dietary Fiber 38.90g	139%
Total Sugars 28.50g
Protein 178.00g	356%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1428mg	110%
Iron 28mg	153%
Potassium 3655mg	78%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.8%

Protein: 14.7%

Carbs: 36.5%