Taco Pasta Salad

I love tacos and pasta, so I combined my favorites into a taco pasta salad! Skip the tortillas and try a unique twist on tacos and pasta with this easy taco pasta salad recipe.

What happens when vegan tacos meet pasta? A beautiful marriage occurs. I'm all about tacos, so creating new and interesting ways to eat tacos, or anything Mexican for that matter. So, today I made a taco pasta salad with walnut meat tossed in a vegan southwest dressing. Of course, this taco pasta salad has all the taco fixins tossed into a giant bowl of yum!

Jump to:

• Pasta Salad Ingredients
• Pasta Salad Ingredient Substitutions
• Making the Pasta Salad
• Vegan Taco Meat Variations
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

As many of you know, I love Mexican food and all the flavors and spices that go along with it. Although I make various vegan taco recipes with cauliflower, vegetables, lentils, and even tofu, one of my favorite vegan taco staples is walnut taco meat.

However, I've provided many different filling options if you are allergic to or avoid eating nuts. Because the beautiful thing about this taco pasta salad recipe is that it is adaptable to many plant-based plans. So regardless of the plan you follow, we have you in mind.

Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Pasta: I chose vegetable, tri-colored whole grain pasta for its nutritional value and vibrant colors.
• Walnut Taco Meat: I make my own walnut taco meat with walnuts, sundried tomatoes, and spices.
• Red Bell Peppers: I like red bell peppers in this recipe because they are sweet and beautiful in this salad.
• Green Onions: Green onions (also known as scallions) are long and thin, typically no wider than a finger, and are bright white at the bottom with dark green tops. They taste different than most onions as they're mild and not very intense. One of their stand-out features is their crunchy texture, which is perfect for a pasta salad recipe.
• Grape Tomatoes: I prefer grape tomatoes because they are firm, bite-sized, and have very few seeds.
• Cilantro: Cilantro is said to have a fresh, citrusy, and/or soapy taste — depending on who you ask — and is also called Chinese parsley. On the other hand, its seeds are often referred to as coriander, a nutty- and spicy-tasting spice.
• Vegan Southwest Dressing: Again, I make my own vegan southwest dressing recipe with three simple ingredients. I also provide nut-free options for people who are allergic to or avoid nuts based on their dietary preferences.
• Pinto Beans: Pinto beans have a creamy, nutty taste and are often described as having 'earthy' flavor notes. I love pinto beans because they are meaty!
• Corn: I prefer fresh corn whenever possible since it's so fresh this time of year.

Pasta Salad Ingredient Substitutions

• Choose any pasta type, size, and shape you prefer. Gluten-free pasta is also an option for a gluten-free diet.
• Try any plant-based taco filling you prefer.
• Green peppers are commonly served with Mexican foods.
• Red onions or white onions are great substitutions for green onions.
• Cherry tomatoes are similar to grape tomatoes in taste and seed content, but they are a little larger, so I suggest cutting them into smaller pieces.
• For those who don't like parsley, I suggest swapping it for parsley for a fresh green taste.
• For this southwest dressing recipe, swap out the cashews for sunflower seeds, silken tofu, or white beans for a nut-free option.
• I like black beans in this recipe as well as a substitute for pinto beans.
• Use canned or frozen corn in this taco pasta salad recipe; however, cook the frozen corn and allow it to cool before adding it to the salad. Drain canned corn.

Making the Pasta Salad

• First, prepare the walnut taco meat while the pasta cooks. Then, dice the other vegetables and cut the tomatoes.
• I suggest using a vegetable chopper to expedite the preparation process.
• Next, rinse and drain the pasta and run cold water through it so it is room temperature.
• Transfer the cooled pasta to a large bowl and add all the other ingredients.
• Stir to combine.

• Once all the ingredients are combined, add the southwest dressing and stir to combine.
• Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

• Add sliced jalapenos, lime wedges, chopped avocado, and extra cilantro on top as garnish options.

Vegan Taco Meat Variations

If walnut meat doesn't sound up your alley, any vegan taco meat works with this recipe.

• Lentil Taco Meat: Lentils and cooked with spicy tomatoes, vegetable broth, and taco seasoning for this tasty filler.
• Tempeh Taco Meat: Tempeh is boiled, crumbled, and cooked in a mixture of sauces and spices for this tempeh taco meat.
• Cauliflower Tacos: Cauliflower is tossed in various Mexican spices and roasted for this cauliflower taco meat.
• Roasted Mexican Vegetables: Vegetables are combined on a sheet pan, seasoned with Mexican spices, and roasted for this vegan taco meat.
• Mushroom "Chorizo" Meat: A combination of mushrooms and walnuts creates this tasty vegan taco filling.
• Jackfruit Carnitas: This carnitas recipe is made with jackfruit and various vegetables in a tangy orange juice blended sauce.
• Tofu Taco Meat: Tofu is marinated in a Mexican blend of spices and then baked, air fried, or grilled to make this tasty taco meat.

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Blend the vegan southwest salad dressing ahead of time and chill before dressing the salad.
• For an added crunch, add tortilla strips to the top of the taco pasta salad recipe before serving.
• Serve with vegan tortilla soup for a soup and salad combination.
• To cut and prep vegetables quickly, invest in a vegetable chopper.
• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, drain it in a colander, rinse it in cold water to stop the cooking process, and bring the noodles to room temperature before transferring it to a bowl.
• The pasta salad can be dressed in advance or right before serving.
• Add shredded vegan cheese as an additional option.
• Garnish with cilantro, lime wedges, and jalapeno if you like it spicy.

For the love of tacos and pasta, change up your taco routine with this taco pasta salad recipe. You will love this combination of ingredients dressed in a simple 3 ingredient vegan southwest dressing.

If you love this taco pasta salad, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

📖 Recipe