Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
Tex-Mex Pasta Salad packs spiraled pasta with seasoned ground beef, salsa, ranch, and plenty of peppers, olives, and sharp Cheddar for a bold, tangy bite in every forkful. It’s hearty and satisfying with a mix of creamy, zippy, and lightly spicy notes, perfect for potlucks, game day spreads, or make-ahead dinners.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Tex-Mex Pasta Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 4 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 10
- Heart Health
- 55
- Metabolic
- 28
- Digestive
- 31
- Inflammatory
- 45
- Performance
- 33
- General Wellness
- 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 slightly firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef; cook and stir until browned and crumbly. Drain the excess grease. Stir in the taco seasoning mix, remove from the heat, and let cool completely.
- 3
Combine the salsa, bell peppers, ranch dressing, green onions, jalapeños, and black olives in a large bowl; stir in the fusilli, beef mixture, and Cheddar cheese until combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Calories 539.85 kcal High 27%
- Protein 31.03 g Good Source 62%
- Carbohydrate 47.23 g 17%
- Total Fat 24.41 g High 31%
- Saturated Fat 7.9 g High 40%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 76.9 mg High 26%
- Sodium 1011.83 mg High 44%
- Dietary Fiber 3.39 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 7.03 g --
- Added Sugars 1.24 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 176.37 mg Moderate 14%
- Iron 4.66 mg Good Source 26%
- Potassium 120.24 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin A 92.29 mcg Moderate 10%
- Vitamin C 37.62 mg Good Source 42%
- Vitamin D 0.16 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Tex Mex Pasta Salad is a Tex Mex side dish recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 35 mins, serves 10, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Fusilli Pasta, Green Onion, Lean Ground Beef, and Mild Salsa. Each serving provides about 539.85 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?
- It is a Tex-Mex salad recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or salad.
- What is Tex-Mex Pasta Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Fusilli Pasta, Green Onion, Lean Ground Beef, Mild Salsa, Olive Oil. The full list of 12 is above.
- How long does it take to make Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?
- About 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 539.85 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Tex-Mex Pasta Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 12 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Tex-Mex Pasta Salad healthy?
- Tex-Mex Pasta Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 539.85 calories and 31.03 g of protein, or 62% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1011.83 mg (44% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 7.9 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.
For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.
Score a recipe free, no app required