Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Printable)

Vibrant pasta with taco-inspired 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

# Method:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large salad 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. Adjust seasoning to taste.
04 - Pour avocado ranch dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
05 - Add shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, then toss again.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top for crunch.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means you can make it on a weeknight without stress.
  • The avocado ranch dressing is so good you'll want to dip everything in it, and nobody will judge you for that.
  • It's one of those rare dishes that tastes better when made a few hours ahead, perfect for meal prep or entertaining.
02 -
  • The Doritos are non-negotiable as a last-minute addition, because even 15 minutes sitting in the dressing will turn them soggy and defeat the whole purpose of having them there.
  • Don't skip rinsing the cold pasta or it'll clump together, and you'll spend ten minutes separating strands that should have been separate from the start.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad, because you might want more lime depending on how buttery your avocado was.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, double the dressing recipe because people will want to drizzle extra on their plates.
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