Taco-inspired pasta salad with Doritos, fresh vegetables, and creamy avocado ranch dressing for bright, fresh flavors.
# 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 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 or milk
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 1 garlic clove, minced
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried
19 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
20 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
21 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
22 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
# Directions:
01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
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 the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Add shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, then toss again to combine.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top for maximum crunch and texture contrast.
07 - Serve immediately for optimal crispness, or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add Doritos immediately before serving to prevent sogginess.
