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Loaded Doritos Taco Pasta Salad

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This loaded Doritos taco pasta salad combines tender pasta, zesty taco-seasoned beef, crisp veggies, melty cheese, and crunchy Doritos in a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s the ultimate cold potluck dish that’s quick, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup corn (drained if canned or thawed if frozen)
  • 1/3 cup sliced green onions
  • 2 cups crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup taco sauce or Catalina dressing
  • Optional: sliced black olives, diced bell peppers, pickled jalapeños, avocado chunks

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Let cool completely.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease if needed.
  3. Sprinkle taco seasoning and pour in water over the beef. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes until thickened and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  4. Chop lettuce, dice tomatoes, drain corn, and slice green onions. Rinse and drain black beans. Pat veggies dry if needed.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing and taco sauce or Catalina dressing. Adjust to taste.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, taco beef, black beans, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour over the dressing and toss gently to coat.
  7. For best flavor, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to let flavors meld.
  8. Just before serving, add crushed Doritos and toss gently. Top with extra cheese or green onions if desired.
  9. If salad seems dry after chilling, add a splash more ranch or taco sauce. If too wet, add extra Doritos or lettuce.

Notes

Add Doritos just before serving to keep them crunchy. For a vegetarian version, skip the beef and double the beans. To make ahead, prep all ingredients except lettuce and Doritos, then combine just before serving. Adjust dressing to taste and drain veggies well to avoid a watery salad.

Nutrition

Keywords: Doritos taco pasta salad, potluck salad, taco salad, cold pasta salad, party salad, easy pasta salad, ground beef salad, kid friendly salad, summer salad, make ahead salad

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/loaded-doritos-taco-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-cold-potluck-hit/