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Easy Creamy Doritos Taco Pasta Salad

A close-up of a bowl filled with creamy taco pasta salad, ground beef, tomatoes, and topped with crushed chips and green onions.
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You will make this satisfying, cold Taco Pasta Salad for your next gathering. It combines seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, pasta, and a creamy dressing, often including crunchy Doritos for texture.

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
  • 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1 cup crushed Doritos (optional, for crunch)

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. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly evaporated. Remove from heat and let the meat cool slightly.
  4. While the meat cools, prepare the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning mix, and lime juice until smooth.
  5. In a very large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and black olives.
  6. Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
  7. If using, fold in the crushed Doritos just before serving to keep them crunchy.
  8. Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to blend.

Notes

  • For meal prep, keep the crushed Doritos separate and add them right before you eat to maintain the crunch.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for the ground beef.
  • If you are planning meals for the week, this salad works well for lunch prep, though the Doritos may soften over several days.

Nutrition

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