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Loaded Doritos Taco Pasta Salad

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This loaded Doritos taco pasta salad is a bold, crowd-pleasing mashup of taco night and pasta salad, featuring crunchy Doritos, taco-spiced beef, creamy dressing, and fresh veggies. It’s easy, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for parties or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, lightly crushed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup sweet corn (canned or thawed frozen)
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and diced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp taco sauce
  • 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes) until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through (6-8 minutes). Drain excess fat.
  3. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat. Stir in 1/4 cup water and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, taco sauce, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Prep veggies: halve cherry tomatoes, chop lettuce, dice red onion, chop cilantro, and dice jalapeño if using.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, taco meat, black beans, corn, tomatoes, onion, lettuce, jalapeño (if using), half the cilantro, and shredded cheese.
  7. Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  8. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours) to let flavors meld.
  9. Just before serving, lightly crush Doritos and sprinkle over the salad. Top with remaining cilantro and extra cheese if desired.

Notes

Add Doritos just before serving to keep them crunchy. Customize with different proteins, beans, or chips. For a vegetarian version, use plant-based crumbles or extra beans. If making ahead, add lettuce and Doritos right before serving. Adjust spice level with jalapeños or hot sauce as desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: Doritos taco pasta salad, party salad, taco pasta salad, potluck salad, cold pasta salad, Tex-Mex salad, easy pasta salad, loaded salad, crowd-pleaser, summer salad

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