With cool vegetables and warm taco seasoned beef, taco mac salad is easy to prepare and can be served in summer or winter. Tangy French dressing and Doritos are a fantastic flavor combo—if we have leftovers, everyone wants to claim them for lunch the next day. It is one of our most requested recipes, and using taco meat from the freezer makes it even quicker to prepare.

Bowl of seasoned ground beef, spiral pasta, lettuce, halved tomatoes, nacho cheese Doritos, and French salad dressing with shredded cheddar cheese on top.

Start with cooked tricolor spiral pasta, lettuce, chopped onion, cherry tomatoes, chopped green bell pepper, taco seasoning mix, salt, pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, ground beef, and nacho cheese Doritos.

Overhead shot of ingredients cooked spiral pasta, lettuce, chopped onion, cherry tomatoes, chopped green bell pepper, taco seasoning mix, salt, pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, ground beef, French dressing, and nacho cheese Doritos.

Overhead shot of cooked spiral pasta, chopped green bell pepper, chopped onion, and halved grape tomatoes.

Multi-colored rotini noodles in a bowl with chopped tomatoes and bell peppers and wooden salad spoons.

Overhead shot of ground beef in a cast iron skillet with taco seasoning on top.

Bowl of seasoned ground beef, spiral pasta, lettuce, and halved tomatoes.

Combine the pasta and chopped vegetables...

And mix well.

Meanwhile, season the cooked ground beef.

Layer the lettuce, pasta and vegetables, and taco-seasoned ground beef.

Crush the Doritos and sprinkle on top, then add French dressing.

Top with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!

Recipe

Taco Mac Salad

5 from 2 votes

This easy taco mac salad is one of our most requested recipes. With cool vegetables and warm seasoned beef, it can be served in summer or winter. Using taco meat from the freezer makes it a quick and easy meal.

Mary Ann

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Course Main Dish, Salad

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 515

Ingredients

8 ounces tri-color rotini
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
⅓ cup water
1 green pepper
1 onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 pint cherry tomatoes
½ head leaf lettuce
⅛ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ cup French dressing
9.75 ounces Nacho Cheese Doritos

Instructions

Cook 8 ounces tri-color rotini according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, brown 1 pound ground beef. When beef is thoroughly cooked, add 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix and ⅓ cup water. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Chop 1 green pepper and 1 onion. Tear ½ head leaf lettuce into bite-size pieces.
Rinse cooked pasta with cold water and drain. In a large bowl, mix cooked macaroni, chopped pepper and onion, lettuce, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Chill.
Just before serving, stir in warm seasoned ground beef, ½ cup French dressing, and 9.75 ounces Nacho Cheese Doritos. Toss gently and serve.

Notes

To reduce calories, use a low fat ground beef and reduced calorie salad dressing.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 515 calCarbohydrates: 51 gProtein: 23 gFat: 24 gSodium: 881 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 7 g

Comments

Chrissy

April 21, 2011 at 10:32 am

YUM! This awesome picture makes my mouth water! Funny you posted this...Chuck just requested this today!

- Mary Ann
  
  April 21, 2011 at 10:34 am
  
  It looks fantastic, doesn't it? I think I'm going to work it into this week's meals for us, too. :)