Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Printable)

A vibrant pasta salad with taco flavors, crunchy Doritos, and creamy avocado ranch dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a 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 - Place avocado, mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lime juice, garlic, dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
04 - Pour avocado ranch dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently with salad tongs or a large spoon until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro over the salad. Toss gently to incorporate.
06 - Immediately before serving, sprinkle crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos over the top of the salad to maintain crunchiness.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate the salad without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add crushed Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's the kind of salad that actually tastes like you're eating something fun instead of virtuous, thanks to the crushed Doritos and cheddar cheese making every bite feel intentional.
  • You can prep almost everything ahead and add the chips right before serving, so it's perfect for gatherings when you want to look effortless.
  • The avocado ranch dressing is so creamy and bright that people always ask for the recipe, and you get to be mysterious about how simple it really is.
02 -
  • Add the Doritos at the very last second before serving or they'll go from crispy to sad and mushy within fifteen minutes, which sounds dramatic but is the difference between this being amazing and people leaving them at the bottom of the bowl.
  • Use fresh avocado that's ripe but not overripe or your dressing will taste watery instead of creamy, and a squeeze of lime juice mixed into the blender prevents it from turning brown if you're making this ahead.
03 -
  • Make the avocado ranch dressing in a jar instead of a blender and shake it vigorously if you don't have a food processor, and it actually incorporates air better this way, making it fluffier and lighter.
  • Buy avocados three or four days before you plan to make this so you can ripen them in a paper bag with a banana, which forces them to their perfect eating moment instead of going from hard to brown with no middle ground.
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