Creamy Taco Pasta Salad made with pasta, hamburger, chopped vegetables, and a creamy taco-inspired dressing to bring it all together. Bonus: It’s done in about 20 minutes!

Creamy Taco Pasta Salad in a white bowl.

One of the best things about this taco pasta salad recipe is that it’s hearty enough to serve as a main dish and simple enough to make as a side for a picnic or cookout too. Who doesn’t love a side that you can also use as a main dish?

Serve Creamy Taco Pasta Salad with somehomemade lemonade, and you’ll have yourself one delicious summer meal!

Check outSimple Italian Pasta Salad,Quick & Easy Pesto Pasta SaladandChicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Saladfor more pasta salad inspiration.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy and delicious.
Budget-friendly.
Can be a side or a main dish.
Easy to transport.

Recipe Ingredients

Pasta:Rigatoni, rotelle, penne, or medium shells are all great in pasta salad.
Ground beef:You could also use ground turkey, pork, or chicken.
Bell pepper
Black olives
Tomato
Red onion
Cheddar cheese:Buy a block of cheddar (not shredded cheese) because it’s cut into small cubes.
Mayonnaise
Sour cream
Spices:Chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Ingredients for Creamy Taco Pasta Salad in a white bowl, including ground beef, bell peppers, black olives, grape tomatoes, cheddar cheese, shell pasta, red onions, and a dollop of the dressing.

Popular Substitutions and Variations

Meat:Feel free to use any ground meat you have or want. Ground pork, turkey, chicken or even bison would all work in this recipe.
Meatless:Omit the hamburger and add a can of black, small red, or pinto beans. You can also add a can of beans in addition to the hamburger to stretch the salad a few more servings.
Extras:Serve with shredded lettuce, crushed Doritos, avocado slices and hot sauce on the side so everyone can customize their salad to their liking.

How to Make Creamy Taco Pasta Salad

Step #1.Boil water and cook the pasta al dente according to directions on the package.
Step #2.Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly browned.
Step #3.In a small separate bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and spices to form the dressing.
Step #4.Put the pasta in a medium-sized bowl and add the cooked ground beef, vegetables, olives, and cheddar cheese.
Step #5.Add the mayonnaise mixture and stir until evenly combined.
Step #6.Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve right away.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes. If you are making this ahead of time, keep the dressing separate and add it right before serving. Put it in a bowl with a lid if you need to transport it somewhere.

What does it mean to cook pasta al dente?

In Italian, al dente means “to the tooth,” which means the pasta is cooked to be firm to the bite.

Should I rinse the pasta in cold water?

Yes. It’s a good idea to rinse cooked pasta in cold water when making pasta salad because it lowers the temperature and stops it from cooking. And, it takes off the starchy coating that causes cooked pasta to stick together.

Creamy taco pasta salad in a white bowl resting on a white napkin.

Expert Tips

You can use any ground meat in this recipe– turkey, chicken, pork, bison, or lamb would all be good alternatives.
I recommend usingsmoked paprikain this pasta saladbecause it adds more flavor than regular paprika.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free pastaand check that all the other ingredients that you use are also gluten-free.
Feel free to serve this with some sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, hot sauce and/or some crushed Doritos on the side.