Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Print View)

A colorful pasta salad bursting with taco spices, Doritos crunch, and creamy avocado ranch flavor.

# 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
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 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain in colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - Transfer cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and romaine lettuce. Toss gently to combine.
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 avocado ranch dressing over pasta mixture and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro over the salad. Toss once more to distribute evenly.
06 - Immediately before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos over the top of the salad to preserve their crunch.
07 - If preparing ahead, refrigerate the dressed salad without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add crushed Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a party in a bowl without requiring you to stress over fancy plating or timing.
  • The texture play between creamy dressing, soft beans, crispy chips, and fresh vegetables keeps every bite interesting.
  • You can throw it together in under 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinners suddenly feel less predictable.
02 -
  • Don't add the Doritos until the last possible moment or they'll turn into mushy sadness by the time people serve themselves.
  • Rinsing the canned beans and corn removes excess starch and sodium, which makes the whole salad taste fresher and more intentional.
03 -
  • Toast your crushed Doritos in a dry skillet for 30 seconds right before adding them to wake up the cheese powder and make them taste even more intense.
  • If your avocado is slightly underripe, it'll still work in the dressing because blending brings out creaminess even before peak ripeness, but don't use one that's brown inside.
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