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Doritos Locos Taco Pasta Salad

A crunchy, colorful salad combining taco-seasoned beef, rotini pasta, fresh veggies, and nacho cheese Doritos for a perfect party dish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef (90/10 or 85/15)
  • 1/2 pound rotini pasta (penne or farfalle also OK)
  • 2 Tbsp taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/2 piece yellow sweet pepper, chopped (red or orange bell pepper ok)
  • 1/4 small white onion, diced
  • 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded (romaine for more flavor)
  • 1/2 cup French dressing (or Catalina for extra sweetness)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (Greek yogurt is a tangy substitute)
  • 1 1/2 cups nacho cheese Doritos, crushed (reserve extra for garnish)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Brown and season the ground beef in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Drain most but not all fat to leave flavor behind.
  2. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta quickly.
  3. Chop the veggies and shred the lettuce.
Assembly
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rotini, seasoned beef, chopped pepper, diced onion, halved grape tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and shredded iceberg lettuce.
  2. Whisk together the French dressing and sour cream, then pour over the salad. Toss gently until evenly coated.
  3. Fold in most of the crushed Doritos, reserving a handful for garnish. Top with an extra dollop of sour cream if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of serving. Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days. For a warm version, reheat beef and pasta together gently in a skillet.