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A quick and delicious taco pasta salad loaded with black beans, ground beef, savory spices, and whole kernel corn. It’s sure to be a hit this Cinco de Mayo or for your next Fiesta Friday!
Cinco de Mayo is next week and Kim and I couldn’t be more excited. We spent this month sharing a number of fiesta themed recipes and we wanted to close out April with a bang. Kim decided to publish her taco pasta salad dish for our final offering this month.
It’s loaded with Tex-Mex favorites like black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes just to name a few. To simplify the process we used a taco seasoning pack, but feel free to use your own unique blend of savory spices. The pasta salad can be garnished with taco toppings of your choice, so go crazy with the sour cream and guacamole.
How to Make Taco Pasta Salad:
- First, cook the dry pasta per the package instructions and set it aside for later. Also, go ahead prep any toppings you will want to your taco pasta salad.
- Next, while the pasta cooks, in a large skillet over medium-high heat combine the taco seasoning and the ground beef. Cook the beef until it’s almost browned.
- After that, when beef is almost done, add the black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Let the mixture cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the ground beef is done. Make sure to stir the ingredients frequently while they cook.
- Then, add the meat mixture to the cooked pasta and toss everything gingerly to combine the pasta salad.
- Last, serve the taco pasta salad with the cheese and any additional condiments you desire.
Tips for Your Taco Pasta Salad:
- For a crispy topping, crumble up some tortilla chips and sprinkle them over the pasta salad.
- Try using 90/10 ground beef, low-fat sour cream, and low-fat cheese to lighten up this recipe.
- This taco dish can be made gluten-free by substituting just a couple of the base ingredients.
Looking for more Cinco de Mayo recipe ideas? Then check out our Chorizo Enchiladas or our Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas!
If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe card. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram searching for Berly’s Kitchen!
Taco Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Pasta (dry, elbow macaroni)
- 16 Ounces Ground Beef
- 1 Ounce Taco Seasoning (packet like McCormick)
- 4 Ounces Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
- 15 Ounces Corn (can, drained)
- 15.25 Ounces Black Beans (can, drained)
- 8 Ounces Diced Tomatoes (can, drained)
Instructions
- First, cook the dry pasta per the package instructions and set it aside for later.
- Next, while the pasta cooks, in a large skillet over medium-high heat combine the taco seasoning and the ground beef. Cook the beef until it’s almost browned.
- After that, when beef is almost done, add the black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Let the mixture cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the ground beef is done. Make sure to stir the ingredients frequently while they cook.
- Then, add the meat mixture to the cooked pasta and toss everything gingerly to combine the pasta salad.
- Last, serve the taco pasta salad with the cheese and any additional condiments you desire.
Stephanie Simmons says
Wow – taco pasta?? I have never seen anything like this! All the flavors here sound amazing
John says
Thank you, Stephanie! I hope you give it a try some time. Have a great week 🙂
Sara says
This looks really good! I love taco pasta salad for dinner, it is the one meal we all agree on usually! My recipe uses a tangy catalina dressing but it can sometimes be hard to find. I am going to try yours next time I make this!
John says
Thank you, Sara! I hope you decide to make it soon and that your family enjoys it 🙂
Christine says
This sounds DELISH! Love taco salad already, but really loving the idea of making it a pasta salad. So creative and delicious!
John says
Thank you, Christine! Kim and I hope you give it try. Have a great week 🙂
Heather says
This is the perfect salad for summer and especially Game Day! So versatile and super easy.. great classic flavors and perfectly simple to make.
John says
Thank you, Heather! Kim and I hope you decide to make it sometime 🙂
Kristina says
I love a good summer pasta salad and this version looks delicious! I can’t get enough of tacos, so I know this will be a new favorite.
John says
Thank you, Kristina! We hope you enjoy the dish 🙂
Karyl Henry says
Oh this looks so good! This would be so great for a party, in kind of a party bar format, so people can top with their favorite items. Loving this one for sure
John says
Thank you, Karyl! That’s a wonderful idea for serving the dish. Have a great Monday 🙂
Anne Lawton says
I love all of the ingredients, I think this will be on my table real soon
John says
Thank you, Anne! We hope you enjoy 🙂
Tamara Andersen says
It’s that time of year when pasta salads sound so good. I love the southwest flavors in this one!
John says
Thank you, Tamara! We’re glad you enjoyed the posting. Have a great day 🙂
Leslie says
This is a great summer meal. My family is seriously into tacos.I’ll love putting this into my Taco Tuesday rotation
John says
Thank you, Leslie! We hope your family loves the taco salad 🙂
Eileen Kelly says
Such a great salad! My oldest daughter so picky, this she loved.
John says
Thank you, Eileen! We’re glad your daughter liked the post. 🙂
Amy Treasure says
Ok, so these ingredients have just gone on my shopping list. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
John says
Thank you, Amy! We hope you enjoy the pasta salad. 🙂
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Mexican food is my favorite cuisine! I love all the flavors you have going with this taco pasta salad and I can’t wait to make your delicious recipe! Hubby’s going to be happy when I do, but not as happy as I will be!! 🙂
John says
Thank you, Elaine! Kim and I hope you and your hubby enjoy the bowls. Have a wonderful day 🙂
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com says
Tacos in a bowl! I love this idea and so would my family! Thanks for sharing!
John says
Thank you, Ananlida! We hope you and your family enjoy the recipe 🙂
Alisha Rodrigues says
Ground beef + Pasta + Cheese + Taco.S. Wow, you make food sound so so good. Love your recipes
John says
Thank you, Alisha! We appreciate the compliment 🙂
Shay says
This made me hungry and I skipped breakfast this morning! I’m going to have to try this out soon! Thanks for sharing!
John says
Thank you, Shay! We hope you enjoy it 🙂
Kat | katcharlesblog says
Looks so good! I like how versatile a dish it seems.
John says
Thank you, Kat!
Jalisa Harris says
Two things I love especially during the Summer. Tacos and pasta salad. I will be making this.
John says
Thank you, Jalisa! We hope you enjoy it 🙂
heather says
This sounds like the perfect comfort food!
John says
Thank you, Heather!
Ruthie Ridley says
This looks amazing! I want to make this tonight!!
John says
Thank you, Ruthie!
Harmony, Momma To Go says
we do alot of pasta salads in the summer – picnics or to take the beach, so def love variations!
John says
Thank you, Harmony!