Mexican Chef Pasta Salad

Name: Mexican Chef Pasta Salad
Ingredients: 14 oz. bag of Flamingo Pasta (or any other short shape); 1 T. olive oil; 1- 1/2 pounds lean ground beef; 1 packet (1.25 oz) taco seasoning; 2 Romaine lettuce heads, chopped, or 1 small head Iceberg lettuce, chopped; 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained; 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise; 1/2 cup diced Vidalia onion, or sweet onion; 2 avocados, diced; 1 lemon, for juice, or 1 T frozen lemon juice; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 2 cups Doritos, nacho cheese, bite size crumbles (may substitute any corn chip); 1/2 bottle of Catalina dressing (store bought), or more to taste.; Tabasco, or other hot sauce

June 16, 2025By Carey Aron

Mexican Chef Pasta Salad | Cha Cha Cha! Easy delish combo of sweet and tangy dressing with seasoned taco meat and fresh tomatoes, avocados and pasta. Add Doritos or corn chips - and the entire family goes crazy! A one pot yummy meal. Perfect for summer or beachside! | WorldofPastabilities.com

Last post Hawaii, this post Mexico! I couldn’t help it…both of these pasta salads bring the fun and festivity to summer cooking. This version of Mexican Chef Pasta Salad is an adaptation from a salad my sister Kathy makes annually on our family beach trip. Confession: we can’t stop eating it.

This pasta salad is a wonderful “one pot” meal. I think it’s the tangy sweetness of the dressing with the seasoned taco meat and fresh tomatoes and avocado and crunchy chips. It’s the “ying and yang” of all the delicious ingredients and the texture is wonderful too. Plus you can serve this baby room temperature or right out of the fridge. My vote: room temp!

And the kids will love it too. Isn’t it wonderful when you can find a recipe that appeals to everyone? I have posted other recipes in the past that are first cousins to this one, and definitely ones to check out: Taco Pasta Salad, Creamy Taco Bolognese, Southwest Chicken Pasta with Avocado Sauce, and Thai Chicken Salad (this one is a third cousin but I couldn’t leave her out!)

Now I must admit that my favorite ingredient here is DORITOS! Yes! You heard me! This recipe is my excuse to buy the largest bag I can find, open it, pull what I need out for this recipe, and then slowly snack on the bag for the next couple of days, if it even lasts that long.

I mean, you know me… I’m mostly a healthy eater and a foodie, not the type to eat this kind of food?! 🙂 But here, I have no choice – it states it in the recipe! (Hint: this is the language you’ll use whenever questioned about the large red bag spotted in your kitchen.)

So here’s to bringing a little Cha-Cha-Cha to your summer cooking! And please notice the cute Flamingo and Sunshine Pasta….perfect for this recipe, and fun for others!