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Dinner

Easy Taco Pasta Salad

A crowd pleasing pasta salad that brings together all your favorite taco flavors in one big, colorful bowl.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 18, 2026
Easy Taco Pasta Salad
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
20 minutes
Cook
15 minutes
Total
35 minutes
Serves
8

This Taco Pasta Salad is one of my go to recipes for summer cookouts or busy weeknight dinners. Everyone loves how it combines the comfort of pasta with the zesty, fresh crunch of a classic taco. It is always the first dish to disappear whenever I bring it to a potluck.

My biggest tip is to let the pasta cool completely before you add the fresh vegetables and dressing. This keeps the lettuce crisp and prevents the creamy sauce from melting away into the warm noodles.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 pound rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced

Instructions

  1. 1

    Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water.

  2. 2

    Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked.

  3. 3

    Drain any excess grease from the beef, add the taco seasoning with a splash of water, and simmer for two minutes before letting it cool down.

  4. 4

    In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, and salsa to create the dressing.

  5. 5

    Combine the cooked pasta, seasoned beef, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, beans, and olives in a very large mixing bowl.

  6. 6

    Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until well coated.

  7. 7

    Serve immediately or keep it in the fridge until you are ready to eat.

💡 Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If you plan to make this ahead of time, keep the lettuce separate and toss it in right before serving to keep it nice and crunchy.

#pasta#taco#salad#dinner#easy

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