Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

This Tex-Mex pasta salad recipe includes pasta, well-seasoned beef, pickled jalapeños, salsa, Cheddar cheese, and Tex-Mex flavors for a hearty meal.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 597 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (16 ounce) package fusilli pasta
• 6 green onions, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 pounds extra lean ground beef
• 1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives
• 1 (8 ounce) bottle ranch dressing
• 1 (24 ounce) jar mild salsa
• 1.5 red bell peppers, chopped
• 0.75 cup chopped pickled jalapeno peppers

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Fill a large pot with water; add oil and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain; set aside.

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef; cook and stir until crumbly and browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning mix, remove from heat, and cool completely.

Step 3

Combine salsa, bell peppers, ranch dressing, green onions, jalapeños, and black olives in a large bowl; stir in fusilli, beef mixture, and Cheddar cheese to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate before serving, at least 1 hour.