Ingredients
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini or cavatappi pasta (or your favorite type), cooked and drained
Vegetables and Add-ins
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (or quartered if preferred)
- 1 (4 oz) can black olives
Dressing
- 3/4 cup French dressing
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil your preferred pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare seasoned ground beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the lean ground beef. Sprinkle the garlic powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, onion powder, chili powder, and chipotle powder over the meat. Brown and crumble the beef thoroughly, making sure the spices are well incorporated. Drain any excess grease and let the beef cool.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine the French dressing and sour cream and mix until smooth and well blended.
- Combine the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta and ground beef. Next, include the shredded cheddar cheese, drained black beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced red onion, and chopped cilantro. Mix all ingredients gently to combine evenly.
- Fold in the dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and fold everything together gently to evenly coat all ingredients.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes prior to serving to allow the flavors to meld together. If desired, just before serving, crush and add tortilla chips or Nacho Doritos for extra crunch.
Notes
- You can replace the individual spices with 2 tablespoons of pre-made or homemade taco seasoning for convenience.
- For a saucier salad, increase the French dressing to 1 cup and sour cream to ¾ cup.
- Add 1 can of drained corn or 1 diced bell pepper for extra vegetables and texture.
- Optional: Crush 2 cups of tortilla chips or nacho Doritos and mix in just before serving to add a crunchy element.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
