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Easy Creamy Taco Pasta Salad with Doritos Crunch

A close-up of a serving of creamy taco pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, corn, tomatoes, olives, and topped with tortilla chips.
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You make this hearty, crowd-pleasing Taco Pasta Salad using simple ingredients for a satisfying weeknight dinner or potluck side dish. It combines seasoned ground beef, pasta, and a creamy ranch dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni or rotini pasta
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
  • 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1 cup crushed Doritos chips (Nacho Cheese flavor recommended)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to cool it down. 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. Cook according to seasoning packet directions, usually about 5 to 7 minutes, until the liquid reduces. Remove from heat and let the beef cool slightly.
  4. While the beef cools, prepare the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, white vinegar, and sugar until smooth.
  5. In a very large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes, and black olives.
  6. Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to combine. This salad is great for meal planning.
  8. Just before serving, gently fold in the crushed Doritos chips for crunch. Do not add the chips until serving time, or they will become soggy.

Notes

  • For a lighter option, you can substitute Greek yogurt for some of the mayonnaise in the dressing.
  • If you are preparing this for a large gathering or potluck, you can easily scale this recipe up.
  • You can prepare the beef and dressing up to one day ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator.
  • This recipe is a great alternative to traditional meal planning services like best meal delivery services when you want homemade flavor fast.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/taco-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-creamy/