Dorito Taco Pasta Salad (Print Version)
A cold, crowd-pleasing pasta salad with taco-seasoned beef, rotini, two cheeses, and a sweet-tangy Catalina dressing, topped with crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos right before serving.
# Ingredients:
→ For the pasta salad
01 -
1 lb (450 g) rotini pasta
02 -
1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
03 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
04 -
1 packet (1 oz / 28 g) taco seasoning
05 -
1 cup (240 ml) Catalina dressing
06 -
1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream
07 -
1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
08 -
1/2 cup (75 g) red onion, finely diced
09 -
1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
10 -
1 cup (115 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
11 -
1 cup (115 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
12 -
1/4 cup (10 g) chopped fresh cilantro
13 -
Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ To finish
14 -
2 cups crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos (about 3 oz / 85 g)
15 -
2 green onions, thinly sliced
# Instructions:
01 -
Boil the rotini in well-salted water until just al dente, about 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water so it stops cooking and doesn't turn mushy.
02 -
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it goes, until no pink remains and it reaches 160°F (71°C) on a food thermometer.
03 -
Drain off excess fat, then stir in the taco seasoning with a splash of water. Simmer for a minute or two until slightly thickened, then let it cool for about 10 minutes.
04 -
Whisk the Catalina dressing and sour cream together in a small bowl until smooth.
05 -
In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with the beef, tomatoes, onion, black beans, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Pour the dressing over and toss until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 -
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Just before serving, fold in the crushed Doritos and green onions so they stay crunchy.
# Notes:
01 -
Fold the crushed Doritos in right before serving so they keep their crunch.
02 -
Chill the salad at least 4 hours, or overnight, before serving for the best flavor.
03 -
Taste and reseason with salt, pepper, or a bit more taco seasoning after chilling, since cold food can taste duller.