This Keto Taco Pasta Salad is ideal for anyone on a low-carb diet and offers a robust, savory twist on a traditional meal. This keto-friendly pasta alternative, such as Shirataki or palmini noodles, is prepared with a combination of fresh vegetables, taco-seasoned minced beef, avocado, & cheese. This Taco Pasta Salad is fulfilling, revitalizing, and bursting with Tex-Mex flavor when tossed with a zesty, acidic dressing prepared from lime juice, sour cream, & mayonnaise. This Keto Taco Pasta Salad is perfect for meal preparation, fast lunches, and even serving as a crowd-pleasing side dish at your next party. You’ll enjoy how simple it is to alter or change the protein, add some spice, or add extras like crushed pork rinds for crunch or olives. The best part is that this Taco Pasta Salad is prepared in just thirty minutes and is kept nicely in the refrigerator for days. This dish delivers the fiesta to your plate without the guilt, whether you’re a ketogenic, low-carb, or taco enthusiast.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
STATS:
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 mints.
- Total Time: Twenty-five mins
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Servings: 6
- Cuisine: Mexican-American Fusion
- Course: Salad
- Diet: Keto, Low Carb, Gluten-Free
EQUIPMENT:
- Pot
- Skillet
- Large mixing bowl
- Colander
- Small bowl
- Whisk
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 oz. low-carb pasta substitute
- ½ lb. ground beef or turkey
- 2 tbsp. taco seasoning
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup red onion
- ½ cup diced avocado
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: sliced olives, jalapeños, cilantro, crushed pork rinds
INGREDIENTS NOTES:
KETO PASTA:
- You can use keto-friendly pasta substitutes such as zucchini noodles (zoodles), spaghetti squash, or Shirataki noodles. These have fewer carbohydrates yet have a comparable mouth feel.
GROUND BEEF OR TURKEY
- You can use ground beef or ground turkey; ground beef has a deeper taste, while ground turkey is leaner. Taco flavor complements both choices.
TACO SEASONING:
- You may use store-bought seasoning or create your own with paprika, oregano, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of cayenne pepper.
TOMATOES:
- Tomatoes bring a pop of freshness and flavor. For the same result, you may also use grape tomatoes or any tiny, ripe tomato.
RED ONIONS:
- The taste of these red onions is moderate and somewhat sweet. Red onions provide a pleasing contrast to the other components, but you may also use white or yellow onions if you’d like.
AVOCADO:
- Avocados offer a healthy dose of lipids and a creamy texture. If you’d like, you may use Greek yogurt or another creamy topping, like guacamole, in their place.
SOUR CREAM:
- Sour cream makes the salad creamy & tangy. You may use light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt if you’d rather have less fat.
CHEDDAR CHEESE:
- I use cheddar cheese in this pasta salad but you can use Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or mozzarella instead of cheddar for a different taste profile,
MAYONNAISE:
- Mayonnaise is used to give it more richness and creaminess. You may use plain Greek yogurt or a sour cream and yogurt mixture if you’re not using mayo.
LIME JUICE:
- Lemon juice adds tang and brightness. You can use lemon juice instead if necessary.
SALT & PEPPER:
- Salt & pepper go along with the taco seasoning; you may also try using other spices or seasonings like cumin, smoky paprika, or garlic powder.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
INSTRUCTION:
- We can pour the water into the pot add the keto pasta.
- Boil them till they get done.
- Place the colander in the kitchen basin and drain its water.
- We can remove the extra fat if required.
- Place the skillet on medium heat.
- Then add the beef in the skillet.
- Saute the turkey or beef till they get brown.
- We can add taco seasoning and a little water to the skillet.
- Stir and simmer for two to three minutes.
- Take a large mixing dish and add the pasta, tomatoes, cooked taco meat, avocado, onion, and cheese.
- Combine all the components.
- Then we can take a small bowl and add the salt and pepper, sour cream, lime juice, and mayo.
- Mix all the components with the whisk.
- After that we can drizzle the salad with the creamy dressing.
- Mix them with each other to coat the salad properly.
- We can put the salad bowl in the fridge to cool down.
- Then we can garnish the salad with the desired topping and serve.
TIPS:
- We can store dressing separately and combine right when you ready to consume to inhibit the salad become soggy.
- Add spicy sauce or chipotle powder to the dressing to add some spiciness.
- We can toss in some crumbled pork rinds for crunch just before serving.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- We can place the leftover taco pasta salad in a sealed box and store this salad for 3 days in the fridge.
FREEZER:
- It is not good to freeze this taco pasta salad because the avocados or dairy-based ingredients may get separated when we thaw the salad.
FAQs:
Is this taco pasta salad low in carbs?
- Yes, this taco pasta salad is low in carbs and it is only comprised of 4g net carbs, 3g fiber, 18g proteins, & 7g total carbs is present in this taco pasta salad.
How can I make this taco pasta salad vegetarian?
- We can easily make this taco pasta salad vegetarian by excluding the meat and we can also use the plant base crumbs.
Free Keto Meal Plan: STEP-BY-STEP KETO DIET PLAN FOR BEGINNERS
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Calories: 350 kcal
Potassium: 480mg
Total Carbs: 7g
Net Carbs: 4g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 18g
Fat: 28g
Sodium: 550mg
Calcium: 180mg
Iron: 2.1mg
Vitamin A: 0.000135 g
