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cookwithmemama

Taco Pasta Salad

This delicious taco pasta salad is a perfect side dish to your backyard BBQ, but could also serve as a meal in itself! Rotini pasta tossed in french dressing then loaded with goodies like taco flavored ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, olives, cheese, cilantro, and crushed Doritos.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 Humans
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef you can use whatever ground meat you like best but usually when making tacos, it is beef or chicken :)
  • 1.25 ounce packet of taco seasoning I will sometimes use TWO packets
  • 3/4 cup water from the tap or filtered if you are feeling fancy
  • 16 oz garden rotini noodles any brand but I use the CHEAPEST because I am not rich!
  • 1 cup French dressing cheapest bottle I could find
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved or you can use a large tomato and chop that baby up
  • 15 oz canned black beans or really whatever beans you enjoy eating up
  • 6 oz can of black olives slice them up real good
  • 8 oz fiesta cheese, shredded I love cheese
  • Cilantro, chopped this is optional but you really should use it
  • 2 cups Doritos, crushed crush these babies up

Equipment

  • 1 sharp knife for chopping up the damn stuff
  • 1 cutting board of your preference for putting food on to chop up
  • 1 medium skillet for cooking that meat up real nicely!
  • 1 spatula for mixing that food as you cook it!
  • 1 large spoon for spooning of course!
  • 1 strainer to strain out that gross meat grease (unless you like it?)
  • 1 large bowl to mix stuff in
  • 1 large pot for cooking pasta in, right?

Method
 

  1. Add the ground beef to a medium skillet and cook over medium heat until browned. Drain the grease. Add the taco seasoning, and water. Bring to a boil, then cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
  2. Fill a large pot halfway with water, and bring to a boil. Add the noodles, and cook until al dente. Drain the water, and run cold water over the noodles until they are cooled.
  3. Add the noodles and dressing to a large bowl and toss to coat.
  4. Add the cooked meat, tomatoes, black beans, olives, cheese, cilantro, and crushed Doritos. Gently toss to combine.
  5. Serve and enjoy!