Chicken Taco Pasta Salad

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Great for summer potlucks or weekday lunches, this taco pasta salad features chicken, plenty of classic taco toppings, and a creamy avocado dressing.

While some might think that pasta salad has a season, I personally love eating it any time of year. What’s not to love about a bowl of pasta mixed with your favorite crunchy veggies and a wonderfully tangy dressing?

I love how many possibilities there are when it comes to pasta salads, so you can always change things up to suit your mood. 

My taco pasta salad has chicken instead of ground beef, which makes it great for using up any leftover chicken you might have from a previous meal. Even better if it’s leftover from taco night!

Like any other pasta salad this comes together quickly, so you are only minutes away from a crowd-pleasing dinner, pass-around dish, or lunches for the week.

Ingredients for taco pasta salad

Full list of ingredients including quantities is located in the recipe card.

You’ll need:

Pasta – Any pasta shape will do for this salad. I like to use shapes that will hold the dressing well, like rotini or the rotelle I’ve used in the photos here.

Cooked chicken –  Slice, cube, or shred the chicken. A mix of white and dark meat tastes best!

Cherry tomatoes – I always prefer to use cherry tomatoes for salads. Halve or quarter them depending on the size.

Bell pepper – Use your favorite color bell pepper.

Red onion – Red onion provides a nice sharp bite in the salad. Mince it for uniform flavor throughout, or cut into half-moon strips so diners can easily remove if desired.

Shredded cheddar – Sharp or mild cheddar will work. I prefer to use smaller shreds so it mixes evenly in the salad.

Cilantro – Use fresh chopped cilantro.

For the dressing, you’ll need:

• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Avocado
• Salsa
• Lime juice
• Taco seasoning

How to make this recipe

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, just to al dente. Make sure to not overcook the pasta, as it will soften further as it soaks up the dressing and rests in the refrigerator.

When the pasta is ready, drain and rinse with cold water until the pasta is no longer hot to the touch. Pour into a large bowl.

While the pasta cooks, chop the mix-ins and make the dressing. I recommend using a small food processor or a blender to mix up the dressing.

Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, flesh from 1 avocado, salsa, lime juice, and taco seasoning to the bowl of a processor. Close and puree until smooth and creamy. 

Taste and add more salsa or taco seasoning as desired. If your seasoning isn’t very salty you might want to add a pinch of salt. If the dressing is too thick for your liking, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it thins out.

Add about half the dressing to the cooled pasta and mix well. Then add the chicken, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, cheese, and cilantro, along with the remaining dressing, and mix again until everything is evenly coated.

The taco pasta salad can be served immediately, or cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Storage tips

Pasta salad keeps in the refrigerator, covered, for about 3 days. 

If you are serving this at a cookout, make sure to not leave it out of refrigeration for longer than two hours.

Recipe suggestions

You can add your other favorite taco ingredients to this salad, too.

Some of my favorite options are seasoned black beans, roasted corn, or chopped pickled jalapenos.

Crushed tortilla chips make for a great crunchy topping, or you can toss with shredded iceberg lettuce just before serving. (Don’t add the lettuce ahead of time or it will be soggy and unpleasant to eat.)

More summer salad recipes

Craving more cookout salad ideas now? Tortellini pasta salad is a summertime classic, or try a twist on the traditional with lemon grilled potato salad.

Creamy balsamic chicken pasta salad is one of my favorites, while roasted tomato pasta salad is basically a BLT in a bowl! Linguine pasta salad is also a great refreshing option.

Crisp jicama salad and Mexican fruit salad are perfect for backyard barbecues, or you can cook up the whole meal with a grilled chicken Caesar salad. 

Make this taco pasta salad for your next potluck party!