Taco Pasta Salad Avocado Ranch (Printable)

A colorful pasta dish with taco spices, crunchy chips, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado ranch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz 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 canned
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 or whole milk
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 running water until cooled completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and romaine lettuce.
03 - In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lime juice, garlic, dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Pour the prepared avocado ranch dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently with salad tongs or a large spoon to evenly coat all ingredients.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro over the dressed salad. Toss gently once more to distribute evenly.
06 - Immediately before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos over the top to maintain crunchiness and vibrant flavor.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately. Alternatively, refrigerate the salad without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's crispy, creamy, and crunchy all at once, which somehow feels like cheating but tastes absolutely right.
  • You can make it ahead and just add the Doritos at the last second, making it perfect for when you're stressed about timing.
  • Everyone eats it—kids stop asking what's in it and just devour it, and adults get genuinely excited about a salad.
02 -
  • If you add the Doritos more than five minutes before eating, they'll turn soft and mealy, which breaks the whole texture magic that makes this salad special.
  • The avocado will brown if you don't use lime juice, so even if you're in a hurry, don't skip it, and if you're making this more than an hour ahead, add the dressing right before serving.
03 -
  • Make the dressing first thing so the flavors have time to meld, and if it's too thick, thin it with a splash more buttermilk rather than adding more mayo.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, assemble everything the morning of but keep the Doritos and dressing separate, then combine everything 30 minutes before people arrive so the pasta drinks in the flavor.
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