Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat]

This taco pasta salad combines favorite taco fillings with hearty pasta in a simple, satisfying Mexican-inspired pasta salad—now 100% meat and dairy-free!

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Super Satisfying Easy Taco Pasta Salad
The Ingredients and Substitutions
How to Make Taco Pasta Salad
FAQs
Pro Recipe Tips
Serving Suggestions
Storing Instructions
Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat]

Super Satisfying Easy Taco Pasta Salad

If you've ever tried hearty taco salad, get ready to fall in love with this vegan version made with a pasta twist. Combining the pasta with taco favorites like juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, crunchy bell peppers, dairy-free Mexican cheese shreds, and taco-spiced vegan ground beef makes a vibrant, fresh, satisfying salad for your next BBQ, pool party, potluck, or gathering.

Perhaps surprisingly, this Mexican style pasta salad is tossed in vegan French inspired dressing. It might sound odd, but the sweet, tangy flavors complement it perfectly. Plus, just like tacos, it's so easy to customize this vegan taco pasta salad without meat - like subbing the dressing or adding more of your favorite taco toppings.

It’s quick, healthy, hearty, meal-prep friendly, and a perfect addition to your line-up of crowd-pleasing summery salads like easy Mediterranean white bean salad, watermelon mint salad, and easy vegan Greek salad.

The Ingredients and Substitutions

ingredients for Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat] measured out on a white surface

Alternatively, try cilantro lime dressing, Catalina dressing, creamy vegan ranch dressing, or a homemade sauce made with vegan sour cream and salsa.

What Could I Add To Taco Pasta Salad?

Crunch: Add crushed air fryer tortilla chips/vegan Doritos (or Takis) when serving for crunch.
Red onion: Finely chopped for texture and robust flavor.
Beans: Add fiber/protein with black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans.
Corn: Canned, frozen (thawed), or charred corn will add crisp sweetness, while the latter adds amazing smoky depth.
Avocado: For creamy texture, fats, and antioxidants. Add when serving.
Black olives: Sliced for briny, tangy flavor.
Radishes: For extra crisp texture in the taco pasta salad recipe.
Jalapeño: Add heat with pickled or freshly sliced jalapeño/ chili.
Sweet potato: Cubed and roasted for texture and subtle sweet flavor.
Lime juice: Add a splash for added brightness and depth.

How to Make Taco Pasta Salad

process shot of mixing ingredients together in bowl

Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, minus 1-2 minutes until al dente. Then drain and set aside in a colander to cool. Either in the same pot (after cooking the pasta) or in another pot (while cooking the pasta), cook the vegan beef crumbles according to their package instructions. Remove the cooked vegan ‘beef’ from the heat, stir in the taco seasoning, and mix. Then, set it aside to cool.

Step 2: Meanwhile, dice the tomatoes and bell pepper and shred the lettuce. Combine all the ingredients in the pot with the crumbles or a large salad bowl and toss. Taste and add more dressing if preferred, then enjoy cold/at room temperature. Enjoy!

For more flavor, cook the pasta in vegetable broth. Also, to cool it quicker, spread it across a large tray.

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For the best flavor, leave the taco pasta salad to sit for 1-2 hours before serving. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes.

FAQs

Should I rinse the pasta?

Some people rinse the cooked pasta to halt the cooking process, but I usually just cook it until al dente and set it aside to cool (preferably across a tray for a larger surface area).

Can I replace the vegan beef crumbles?

You could use crumbled tofu, walnut lentil ‘taco meat’ or vegan chicken pieces.

Do you eat taco pasta salad hot or cold?

It’s designed to be eaten chilled or at room temperature, but if you want to enjoy it warm, make the taco pasta salad without lettuce.

Can I make it gluten-free?

This Mexican pasta salad recipe is gluten-free if you use gluten-free pasta. However, double-check the dressing and seasoning ingredients, too.

Pro Recipe Tips

Cook the pasta al dente: It’s important to cook it for about 2 minutes less than the package recommends. This will stop it from becoming mushy.
Leave it to rest: For the best flavor, leave the Southwest taco pasta salad to chill for at least an hour before serving. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld, and the better it tastes.
Experiment with add-ins: Just like regular tacos, you can experiment with adding your favorite taco toppings.

Serving Suggestions

A protein – like marinated or crispy air fryer tofu/tempeh, vegan chicken, etc.
Stuffed bell peppers
Tacos - vegan chorizo tacos, black bean tacos, and walnut meat tacos
Butternut Squash and Black Bean Burritos
Eas vegan taquitos
Butternut squash enchiladas
Vegan elote
Tater tot nachos or air fryer nachos

Storing Instructions

Store the taco salad with pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days (it’s best to store some of the dressing separately). It tastes even better on day two. These are the labels I used in the photo below.

To avoid sogginess but prepare the salad in advance, store the various elements in separate containers in the fridge, then assemble it before serving.

completed Taco Pasta Salad [Without Meat] in a storage container

Comments

5 from 45 votes (34 ratings without comment)