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Taco Pasta Salad

This quick and easy salad is ready in under thirty minutes and will definitely hit the spot! It’s full of all the fresh flavors of taco night packed into a simple, delicious, pasta salad. The taco pasta salad is a breeze to make gluten free and is a perfect side for any meal, potluck, or family gathering.

  • Author: Bailey
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
  • Category: Beef
  • Method: Salad
  • Cuisine: Pasta
  • Diet: Gluten Free
This quick and easy salad is ready in under thirty minutes and will definitely hit the spot! It's full of all the fresh flavors of taco night packed into a simple, delicious, pasta salad. The taco pasta salad is a breeze to make gluten free and is a perfect side for any meal, potluck, or family gathering. #tacosalad #pastasalad #glutenfree
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Ingredients

  • 1pound lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 12 oz rotini or cavatappi pasta (or your favorite type), cooked and drained
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (or quartered if preferred)
  • 1 (4 oz) can black olives
  • 3/4 cup French dressing
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

  1. Cook and drain pasta and set aside to cool
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and taco seasoning spices. Incorporate the spices into the ground beef while browning. Once beef is browned and crumbled, drain the grease and set aside to cool
  3. In a small bowl, mix together the French dressing and sour cream
  4. Once cooled, add the pasta and beef to a large mixing bowl. Then add in the cheese, beans, tomatoes, olives onions and cilantro. Mix everything together, and then fold in the dressing
  5. Store in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to serving to let the flavors combine
  6. If adding in crushed chips, do so just prior to eating

Notes

  • You can replace the spices with 2 tablespoons pre-made or homemade taco seasoning
  • You can use 1 cup French dressing and ¾ cup sour cream if you want more dressing
  • You can add 1 can corn (drained) or 1 diced bell pepper for more vegetables
  • Optional: crush 2 cups tortilla chips or nacho Doritos and mix in for added crunch