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Taco Pasta Salad

Taco pasta salad with rotini, taco-seasoned ground beef, and a creamy ranch-lime dressing. Chilled and tossed until evenly coated, then finished with crispy tortilla strips for crunch.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican-American
Calories: 860
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Taco Pasta Salad
  • 1 lb rotini pasta
  • 1 lb ground beef Cooked and seasoned
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 0.5 red onion diced
  • 1 cup black beans drained
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 0.5 cup crispy tortilla strips
  • 0.5 cup ranch dressing
  • 0.25 cup lime juice
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 0.1 salt to taste
  • 0.1 pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain well and set aside to cool.
Combine the salad base
  1. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, seasoned ground beef, corn, diced red bell pepper, diced red onion, and drained black beans.
Make the ranch-lime dressing
  1. In a separate bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, lime juice, and taco seasoning until smooth.
Toss and season
  1. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
  2. Fold in shredded cheddar cheese and chopped fresh cilantro, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Chill and finish
  1. Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.
  2. Just before serving, top with crispy tortilla strips for crunch.

Notes

For the cleanest texture, cool the pasta fully before mixing so it doesn’t soften the cheese or make the dressing watery. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; keep tortilla strips separate and add them right before eating for best crunch. Freezing isn’t recommended because pasta and toppings can lose texture. If you prefer a lighter option, use light ranch dressing while keeping the taco seasoning and lime juice the same.