Taco Pasta Salad Avocado Ranch (Print View)

A colorful pasta salad featuring taco seasoning, crushed Doritos, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
04 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen thawed
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
08 - 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped

→ Toppings

09 - 2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, coarsely crushed
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Avocado Ranch Dressing

12 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
13 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
14 - 1/4 cup sour cream
15 - 1/4 cup buttermilk
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 1 garlic clove, minced
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
19 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
20 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
21 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
22 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, diced bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and romaine lettuce. Toss to combine.
03 - Combine avocado, mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lime juice, minced garlic, dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
04 - Pour avocado ranch dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently with salad tongs or a large spoon until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro over the dressed salad. Toss once more to distribute evenly throughout.
06 - Immediately before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top of the salad to maintain crunchiness. Serve at once or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours, adding chips just before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, and most of that time is just boiling water.
  • The textures stay interesting because you add the Doritos right before serving, so they never get soggy and sad.
  • People genuinely cannot believe how good it tastes, which makes you look like a genius for minimal effort.
02 -
  • Adding the Doritos more than five minutes before serving is a rookie mistake that will cost you the best part of this dish—they absorb moisture and turn into soggy regret.
  • The avocado oxidizes and turns brown if you make the dressing too far in advance, so prepare it no more than a couple hours before serving, or squeeze extra lime juice on top and cover it directly with plastic wrap to keep air off it.
03 -
  • If you can find them, the Flamin' Hot Doritos version of this salad is incredible for people who like spice, and it completely changes the flavor profile in the best way.
  • Chill your salad bowl in the refrigerator for a few minutes before assembling everything—it keeps the whole salad cooler longer and tastes so much more refreshing.
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