Easy Taco Pasta Salad
Easy Taco Pasta Salad brings taco seasoned ground beef, pasta, tomatoes, black beans, cheddar and scallions mixed with a creamy slightly spicy ranch dressing. Its perfect warm or chilled, for lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Pasta Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex Mex
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Radiatore pasta (please see notes)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cut in very small cubes
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 small head romaine lettuce chopped (about 6 cups)
Dressing
- 1 1/3 cup ranch dressing
- 2–3 tablespoons adobo sauce (please see notes)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa or salsa style tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook pasta la dente according to box instructions. Drain well and cool. Stir or flip while cooling so it does not stick too much.
- In large skillet over medium heat brown ground beef. Drain any excess fat. Turn heat to low and add taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 7-10 minutes.
- In small bowl whisk together ranch dressing, adobo sauce, sour cream and salsa.
- Add cooled pasta to large bowl. Add mixed dressing, cheddar, tomatoes, scallions, black beans, romaine and seasoned beef. Stir gently to coat and serve.
- Refrigerate any leftovers.
Notes
- You can use any small pasta for this dish like small shells, macaroni, rotini or bowtie pasta.
Adobo sauce can be made homemade or purchased in the Mexican section of your grocery store. You can also but a can of chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce and use the pepper for other recipes. Canned chili peppers that have been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 1 to 2 months. - Cook the pasta slightly al dente. No one wants mushy noodles and pasta salads require stirring so you don’t want those noodles breaking down.
- Include lots of good quality, fresh ingredients. Look for the best grape tomatoes, sharp cheddar, romaine lettuce, etc.
- Let the noodles cool before adding the romaine lettuce and other ingredients that like to be cool.
- They are now selling ranch dressings in the refrigerator section that have no artificial flavors, preservative or colors and they are delicious!
- If your pasta salad seems dryer than you like it, add a few tablespoons of extra ranch, sour cream or salsa. Most pasta salad recipes are easily modified with a little of this and a little of that.
Find it online: https://www.smalltownwoman.com/easy-taco-pasta-salad/