Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy taco pasta salad has seasoned ground beef, black beans, cheddar cheese, and a creamy salsa dressing. Serve it as a quick lunch or picnic side dish!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time2 hours hrs 25 minutes mins
Servings: 12 servings
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef 90-95%
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 ½ cups salsa
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 15 ounce 1-can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup frozen corn thawed
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 4-6 green onions sliced
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to cool. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Add the ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through. Stir in the water, tomato paste, taco seasoning and salt. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until saucy and well combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together the salsa, sour cream, and lime juice until well combined.
Add the cooked pasta, taco meat, black beans, corn, shredded cheese, tomatoes and green onions to the bowl. Toss until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve right away or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
My Top Tip: Cook the pasta to al dente. You want it to be slightly firm so it'll hold up well in the taco pasta salad. If it's overcooked, it can get mushy.
Storage: Store leftover taco pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days. No need to reheat, it tastes great cold!
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 597mg | Potassium: 533mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 549IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 2mg
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