The Ultimate Doritos Taco Pasta Salad: A Flavor-Packed, Easy Potluck Favorite
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Prepare your taste buds for an explosion of flavor with the most irresistible Doritos Taco Pasta Salad you’ll ever encounter! This sensational dish brings together the best of several worlds: savory taco-seasoned ground beef, crisp and vibrant fresh vegetables, perfectly cooked pasta, and the iconic cheesy, spicy crunch of Nacho Cheese Doritos, all tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s a truly addictive combination that creates a symphony of textures and tastes in every bite.
Whether you’re looking for a hearty main course that satisfies everyone at the table, a standout side dish for your next potluck, or a refreshing addition to a summer cookout, this Doritos Taco Pasta Salad ticks all the boxes. Its ease of preparation makes it a weeknight winner, while its unique and crowd-pleasing profile ensures it’s a hit at any gathering. Be warned, though: once you start, you might find it hard to stop, as this salad has a reputation for being devoured in a single sitting!
Craving more incredibly easy and delicious recipes like this? Dive into my extensive collection of potluck-ready sides and salads that are guaranteed to impress!
Watch the Recipe Video: Crafting Your Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
Visual learners, rejoice! Get a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create this incredible Doritos Taco Pasta Salad. This video makes the process even simpler, ensuring you achieve perfect results every time. Watch as we bring together each ingredient to create this ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Essential Ingredients for Your Ultimate Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
The beauty of this taco pasta salad lies in its straightforward yet flavorful ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to create this culinary masterpiece:
- Rotini Pasta: While any short pasta shape will work, rotini is my top recommendation. Its signature corkscrew ridges are fantastic for capturing and holding onto every drop of the savory dressing, ensuring maximum flavor in each bite. Consider other hearty shapes like fusilli, penne, or farfalle if rotini isn’t available. Cook it al dente for the best texture in a cold salad.
- Ground Beef: The hearty base of our taco flavor. Lean ground beef is ideal to minimize grease, but any fat percentage will work as long as you drain it well. For a lighter or poultry-friendly alternative, feel free to substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken. Just be sure to season them generously.
- Taco Seasoning: The secret to that authentic taco taste. You can easily find convenient packets at any grocery store, or for a more customizable flavor, whip up your own blend using chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne for heat.
- Fresh Veggies (Roma Tomatoes, Green Onions, Avocado, Iceberg Lettuce): This quartet forms the heart of our fresh taco toppings. Roma tomatoes offer a firm texture and mild sweetness when diced. Green onions add a sharp, fresh bite. Creamy avocado contributes a rich, smooth element. And crisp iceberg lettuce provides that essential crunch and freshness characteristic of a great taco salad. Feel free to add bell peppers, red onion, or fresh cilantro for extra color and flavor.
- Canned Corn and Black Beans: These convenient pantry staples are always on hand and are fantastic additions to any taco-inspired dish. The corn adds a touch of sweetness and pop, while black beans provide a boost of protein and earthy flavor. Remember to drain the corn thoroughly and both drain and rinse the black beans to remove excess sodium and starch.
- Crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos: This is where the “Doritos” magic happens! The crushed chips deliver an irresistible cheesy, spicy, and utterly crunchy element that elevates this pasta salad from great to extraordinary. While Nacho Cheese is the classic choice, don’t hesitate to experiment with other favorites like Cool Ranch for a zesty kick, Spicy Sweet Chili for a sweet heat, or even Flamin’ Hot for adventurous palates.
- Bottled Creamy French Dressing: A simple yet effective dressing that brings all the elements together. Its creamy texture and balanced sweet-tangy profile beautifully complement the taco flavors. I personally love using Kraft brand, but Catalina or even a zesty Ranch dressing could also work well as alternatives. For a fresher, homemade touch, consider a creamy avocado-lime dressing.
How to Master the Art of Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
Crafting this incredible taco pasta salad is surprisingly simple, requiring just a few easy steps to bring all the delicious components together. Follow these instructions for a perfect blend of flavors and textures:
Step 1: Prepare the Pasta
Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta (rotini works best!) and cook it according to the package instructions until it’s perfectly al dente. This ensures the pasta holds its shape and has a pleasant bite, even when cold. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly in a strainer. Immediately rinse it with cold water. This crucial step not only stops the cooking process, preventing mushiness, but also helps to cool the pasta down quickly, which is essential for a cold pasta salad, and prevents it from sticking together.
Step 2: Cook and Season the Ground Beef
While your pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook it thoroughly, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula as it browns. Continue cooking until no pink remains. Once fully cooked, it’s important to drain any excess grease from the pan to prevent your salad from becoming oily. Next, return the beef to the skillet, add the taco seasoning mix and the specified amount of water. Stir everything together well, allowing the beef to simmer for a few minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the seasoning beautifully coats the meat. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the seasoned ground beef cool down completely. This cooling step is vital for the overall temperature and texture of the cold pasta salad.
Step 3: Chop, Combine, and Serve
Now it’s time to prep your fresh vegetables! Finely chop the Roma tomatoes, slice the green onions, finely shred or chop the iceberg lettuce, and cube the ripe avocados. For extra ease with avocado, I highly recommend using a specialized avocado slicer to scoop out perfect slices or cubes. Gather all your prepared ingredients: the cooled pasta, the cooled taco-seasoned ground beef, all your chopped vegetables, the drained corn, the rinsed black beans, the crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos, and the creamy French dressing. Add all of these vibrant components to a large salad bowl (a beautiful acacia bowl adds a touch of elegance). Toss everything together gently but thoroughly until every ingredient is coated in the dressing and evenly distributed.
Serving and Storage Tips:
This Doritos Taco Pasta Salad is best served immediately for optimal crunch from the Doritos. However, if you plan to prepare it ahead of time, I highly recommend holding off on adding the crushed Doritos and the dressing. Store the pasta, beef, and veggies separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Just before you’re ready to serve, combine all components, add the dressing and Doritos, mix well, and enjoy. This strategy ensures your chips remain perfectly crispy and the salad stays fresh. Leftovers, if any, should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days, though the Doritos may lose some of their crunch over time.
Discover More Delectable Pasta Salad Recipes
If you’re a fan of the ease and versatility of pasta salads, you’re in luck! Here are some other fantastic recipes from my collection that are perfect for any meal or gathering:
- Pepperoni Mozzarella Pasta Salad: A delightful Italian-inspired pasta salad packed with savory pepperoni, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty Italian dressing – perfect for pizza lovers!
- BLT Pasta Salad: All the classic flavors of a beloved BLT sandwich, transformed into a refreshing pasta salad with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a creamy dressing.
- Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad: A sophisticated and vibrant pasta salad featuring cheesy tortellini, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, cucumber, and a tangy Greek vinaigrette. It’s a Mediterranean delight!
Doritos Taco Pasta Salad
Julia Pacheco
20 minutes
20 minutes
4
servings
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Ingredients
-
16
oz
rotini pasta -
1
lb
ground beef -
⅓
cup
water -
2
Tbsp
taco seasoning -
2
large
Roma tomatoes -
5
green onions -
¼
head
iceberg lettuce -
2
avocados -
15
oz
can corn, drained -
15
oz
can black beans, drained and rinsed -
1 ½
cups
crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos -
16
oz
bottle creamy French dressing
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Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta in a strainer and then rinse it thoroughly with cold water to stop cooking and cool quickly.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef thoroughly, breaking it up as it browns. Once cooked, remove any excess grease from the pan. Add the taco seasoning and water, stir well, and let it simmer for a few minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Let the seasoned ground beef cool down completely.
- Chop the tomatoes, green onions, iceberg lettuce, and avocado into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooled ground beef, all chopped vegetables, drained corn, rinsed black beans, crushed Doritos, and creamy French dressing. Mix everything well until thoroughly combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve, adding Doritos and dressing just before serving if making ahead.
Video
Nutrition
Calories:
1752
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
183
g
|
Protein:
53
g
|
Fat:
94
g
|
Saturated Fat:
20
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
34
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
33
g
|
Trans Fat:
1
g
|
Cholesterol:
81
mg
|
Sodium:
1147
mg
|
Potassium:
2004
mg
|
Fiber:
28
g
|
Sugar:
31
g
|
Vitamin A:
1653
IU
|
Vitamin C:
25
mg
|
Calcium:
178
mg
|
Iron:
8
mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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