Easy Taco Pasta Salad (Printable)

Colorful pasta with black beans, corn, avocado, and a zesty creamy dressing for bright summer gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
04 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
07 - 1 avocado, diced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Cheese

09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Dressing

10 - 1/2 cup sour cream
11 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
13 - 1 packet taco seasoning
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

16 - 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
17 - Fresh cilantro for serving

# Step-by-step Directions:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain through colander, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, red bell pepper, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and cheddar cheese.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, taco seasoning, salt, and black pepper until smooth and fully combined.
04 - Add cooled pasta to vegetable and cheese mixture. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to ensure even coating of all ingredients.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together properly.
06 - Just before serving, top with crushed tortilla chips and additional fresh cilantro as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for last-minute gatherings
  • Bursting with colorful vegetables and crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex flavors
  • Easily customizable to suit vegetarian, vegan, or meat-lover preferences
  • Holds up beautifully at room temperature, ideal for outdoor events
  • Makes excellent leftovers that taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Make the dressing a day ahead to let the taco seasoning flavors fully bloom
  • Reserve a small amount of pasta cooking water—it can help loosen the dressing if needed
  • Don't skip the chilling time; cold pasta salad tastes significantly better than room temperature
  • Add avocado just before serving to prevent oxidation and maintain vibrant green color
  • Double the recipe easily—this salad scales beautifully for large gatherings
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