Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
Easy Taco Pasta Salad is the ultimate quick and flavorful meal that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it crispy and preventing soggy pasta. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Mexican Bean Salad Recipe and Quick and Flavorful Mexican Salad Recipe.
Why This Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy pasta and tortilla strips
- Packed with fresh veggies and protein
- Customizable with your favorite toppings
- Perfect for meal prep and potlucks
What You'll Need for Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 12 oz (340g) rotini pasta
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 packet (1.27 oz/36g) taco seasoning
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup (115g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (8.5 oz/240g) tortilla chips, crushed
- 1 packet (1.27 oz/36g) taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Optional: Avocado, sliced or diced
- Optional: Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Optional: Salsa or pico de gallo
- Optional: Lime wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: You can substitute with ground turkey or chicken if preferred.
- taco seasoning: Store-bought or homemade taco seasoning can be used.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Saves time and effort in chopping veggies → See on Amazon
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for cooking ground beef → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.
- Cook ground beef: In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Add seasoning: Stir in taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, cooked ground beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, and red onion.
- Add dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss to combine.
- Add cheese and tortilla chips: Fold in shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Serve immediately with desired toppings, or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overcooking pasta to prevent it from becoming too soft and mushy. Cook it al dente and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Tip: For a lighter version, use whole wheat pasta and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Tip: Customize your Taco Pasta Salad by adding your favorite proteins like grilled chicken, blackened shrimp, or sautéed mushrooms.
- Tip: Make ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add toppings just before serving to keep them fresh.
Storing & Reheating Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add toppings just before serving.
Freezing Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not applicable. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or chickpeas for a vegetarian or vegan version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the dressing and chop all veggies ahead of time. Store separately in the refrigerator until ready to combine.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the pasta salad becomes too dry, add a little more olive oil or lime juice to moisten it.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant read meat thermometer — Ensures ground beef is cooked to a safe temperature, preventing foodborne illnesses → Check price on Amazon
Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz (340g) rotini pasta
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 packet (1.27 oz/36g) taco seasoning
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz/425g) corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup (115g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (8.5 oz/240g) tortilla chips, crushed
Seasonings
- 1 packet (1.27 oz/36g) taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Avocado, sliced or diced
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Salsa or pico de gallo
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.
- Cook ground beef: In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Add seasoning: Stir in taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, cooked ground beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, and red onion.
- Add dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss to combine.
- Add cheese and tortilla chips: Fold in shredded cheese and crushed tortilla chips. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Serve immediately with desired toppings, or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the dressing.
- Best substitution: Substitute ground beef with cooked lentils or chickpeas for a vegetarian or vegan version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the dressing and chop all veggies ahead of time. Store separately in the refrigerator until ready to combine.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the pasta salad becomes too dry, add a little more olive oil or lime juice to moisten it.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not applicable.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add toppings just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 61g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sat. Fat: 7g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add toppings just before serving to keep them fresh.
Overcooking pasta and not draining it properly can make the salad soggy. Cook pasta al dente and rinse under cold water to prevent this.
It's not recommended to freeze this salad as the texture of the pasta and veggies can become mushy upon thawing.
The air fryer is not suitable for cooking this recipe as it requires cooking pasta and ground beef separately.
You can substitute ground beef with cooked lentils, chickpeas, or ground turkey for a different protein option.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Taco Pasta Salad Recipe – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
