Merlie's Taco Pasta Salad

Get ready to spice up your next gathering with Merlie's Taco Pasta Salad—a vibrant fusion of Tex-Mex flair and classic pasta salad comfort! This crowd-pleaser combines tender rotini pasta with seasoned ground beef, black beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, and creamy shredded cheddar cheese, all tossed in a zesty cilantro-lime dressing. The bold flavors of taco seasoning paired with the refreshing tang of lime juice make every bite irresistibly satisfying. Perfectly suited for potlucks, BBQs, or family dinners, this recipe requires just 35 minutes of prep and cook time and is best served chilled to let the flavors fully meld. Serve it as a standalone dish or alongside your favorite Mexican-inspired entrees for a complete meal experience. Don't forget the fresh cilantro garnish for an extra pop of color and taste!

Nutriscore Rating: 64/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 16 oz Rotini pasta
• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 packet Taco seasoning
• 1 cup Black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup Corn kernels (canned or frozen)
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 stalks Green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Sour cream
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tbsp Lime juice
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. Cook for an additional 2 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooked taco-seasoned beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 6

Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad a quick toss and garnish with additional chopped cilantro if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2184.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5036.5

Total Fat 261.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 95.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 654.8mg	0%
Sodium 8985.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 498.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.2g	0%
Total Sugars 51.5g
Protein 195.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1498.5mg	0%
Iron 30.9mg	0%
Potassium 3995.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.9%

Protein: 15.2%

Carbs: 38.9%