This Taco Pasta Salad is a family favorite! This pasta salad recipe is perfect for BBQs, potlucks and big family gatherings! It has a secret ingredient that stops everyone in their tracks!
Make a bunch of BLT Ranch Burgers, a big Zucchini Sheet Cake, a huge batch of my mom’s Bacon Spinach Salad and you have the perfect menu for a big family get together.
Growing up with two older brothers, I always wanted a sister. I remember one year for Christmas I actually asked my parents for a twin sister, because I was kind of a punk as a kid.
They gave me a mirror.
I wonder where I got my punkiness from.
And then after growing up with two brothers, I married a man with FIVE.
But the thing about all those brothers is that it has actually meant sisters! Seven sister in laws!
Don’t tell anyone, but one of my very favorite sister in laws is the wife of the brother who is just one older than Nathan (did you follow that?). Deanna has been part of my in law family the longest, so I have known longer than almost all of my other sister in laws. She is so many awesome things, but I enjoy her most as an aunt and as a friend. She seriously loves my kids so much, it is the greatest thing to watch. And even though right now she lives on the other side of the stupid planet (remember when I made this Pina Colada Sangria for her send off?) and when I text her I’m either interrupting her breakfast or keeping her awake too late, she is one of my favorite people text with . . . I always end up cry laughing ????
THE BEST TACO PASTA SALAD RECIPE
So this is her recipe. She has made it for tons of family functions, and I loooooove it. I snarf it down every time she makes it. The secret ingredient to this, if you can believe it, is French dressing. I know that sounds super totally weird, but it is all the exact right flavor combos.
This makes a HUGE batch, so it is perfect for BBQs and family functions. You can make it ahead of time, but just wait to add the dressing and chips until right before you serve it otherwise the chips and the lettuce will get all soggy and weird.
Enjoy!
OTHER RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE
If you like this Taco Pasta Salad, you will also love these other great family recipes:
Taco Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef cooked and drained
- 1 pound rotini cooked and drained and rinsed with cold water
- 1 oz or 3 TBSPs taco seasoning
- 1 green pepper diced small
- 1 small yellow onion diced small
- 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese
- 3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups French dressing
- 9 3/4 oz bag Nacho Doritos crushed
Instructions
- Stir together the beef and the taco seasoning.
- In a very large bowl, mix together the beef, noodles, green pepper, onion, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese.
- Mix in the French dressing until everything is well coated. Then stir in the chips. Enjoy right away.
Heidi says
Western dressing also works well in this.
Paula says
I’m making this today….I think I’ll use chopped cabbage instead of lettuce because it’s what I have and it doesn’t wilt as fast but otherwise follwing the recipe. Thanks…I really like your site.
Tracy says
How Is This The Next Day as leftovers
It still good, but certainly the first day is better.
Tracy Harper says
Catalina dressing in the taco pasta salad is alot better than the French dressing.
Sabrina says
This was delicious! I added a few drops of Tabasco to mine.
So happy you liked it Sabrina!
imelda says
no cilantro?
You certainly could add it!
Wanda says
Excellent recipe. If you serve the Doritos on the side instead of adding to the whole salad, the salad will be just as good the next day as the first without having soggy Doritos.
Yes! Though I will add the lettuce gets a little wilted as well, so you might want to put that on the side too.
Donna Hamende says
I will so make this when we go back home in Aug, to meet the new great grandson. I just don’t think I can wait till then.
Jenny says
Oh my gosh, just made this last night and it is GREAT! I found a LITEHOUSE Salsa Ranch Dressing at Safeway, do you think that would work as well ?
Also the Sister in laws is just fine.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE AWESOME RECIPES.!!
I”m so glad you liked it!
Elizabeth says
Sisters in law not sister in laws. You don’t have plural laws. Plural sisters.
Have a great weekend Elizabeth!