Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Printable)

A vibrant pasta salad with taco flavors, crunchy chips, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado ranch dressing.

# 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 frozen
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:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
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, minced garlic, dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Pour the prepared avocado ranch dressing over the salad mixture. Gently toss 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 gently to incorporate.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle the coarsely crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos over the top of the salad to maintain their crunch.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls or plates and serve immediately. Alternatively, refrigerate the salad without Doritos for up to 4 hours and add Doritos immediately before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in thirty minutes, which means you can decide to make it while your guests are already on their way.
  • The avocado ranch is so creamy and tangy that even people who usually skip salad will go back for seconds.
  • Crushed Doritos give you permission to stop taking salad so seriously and just have fun with it.
02 -
  • If you add the Doritos more than five minutes before serving, they absorb the dressing and transform into a tragic wet paste instead of the textural glory you're after.
  • The dressing thickens slightly as it sits because the avocado continues to soften, so if you make it ahead, thin it with a splash more buttermilk before serving.
03 -
  • Make the avocado ranch dressing first thing because once avocado oxidizes it starts turning brown and grey, so keeping it covered in the bowl while you prep vegetables prevents that sad color situation.
  • If you're taking this somewhere, pack the Doritos in a separate bag and add them right before serving, this is the single most important thing you can do to protect the integrity of your masterpiece.
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