Description
Perfectly blended Mexican-inspired Taco Pasta Fiesta Salad combines zesty pasta, seasoned ground beef, and crisp vegetables in one delightful dish. Fresh cilantro and tangy dressing bring spectacular southwestern flavors that will make you crave another bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Pasta:
- 1 pound (454 g) ground beef
- 8 ounces (226 g) rotini pasta, cooked al dente
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
Vegetables and Produce:
- 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1 medium Roma tomato, finely diced
- ½ cup (74.5 g) red bell pepper, finely diced
- ½ cup (80 g) yellow onion, diced
- 1 can (15.25 ounces / 432 g) corn kernels, drained
- Diced iceberg lettuce, optional for garnish
Cheese, Dressing, and Topping:
- 2 cups (226 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (272 g) Catalina dressing
- 1 bag (9.25 ounces / 262 g) Nacho Doritos, slightly crushed
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a spacious skillet at medium temperature, ensuring the meat thoroughly cooks and loses its pink coloration, rendering out excess fat.
- Season the beef with robust taco spices, allowing the mixture to cool and develop enhanced flavor profiles.
- Select a generously sized mixing vessel and combine the al dente pasta with a vibrant medley of fresh vegetables, including zesty jalapeños, juicy tomatoes, sweet corn kernels, crisp red bell peppers, and sharp onions.
- Incorporate the seasoned ground beef into the vegetable and pasta mixture, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Drizzle the salad with tangy Catalina dressing, gently folding to coat each component with a glossy, flavorful sheen.
- Crush the zesty Doritos chips into rustic fragments, reserving a handful for an eye-catching garnish.
- Immediately before serving, fold the crushed Doritos throughout the salad to maintain their characteristic crunch and add textural contrast.
- Plate the fiesta-inspired pasta salad, strategically positioning reserved Doritos chips on top for visual appeal.
- Optional: Sprinkle fresh, crisp lettuce over the dish to provide an additional layer of refreshing brightness and textural complexity.
Notes
- Customize your heat level by adjusting the amount of jalapeño or removing seeds for a milder kick.
- Prepare ingredients ahead of time and refrigerate for a quick, refreshing meal perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks.
- Doritos add a crunchy texture and zesty flavor, transforming this pasta salad into a crowd-pleasing dish.
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter protein option.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack or Mexican blend to enhance the taco-inspired flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 278
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 504 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg