Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Printable Version)

A lively pasta salad with taco flavors, Doritos crunch, and creamy avocado ranch dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces 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 thawed
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - ½ red onion, finely chopped
07 - ½ 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 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Avocado Ranch Dressing

12 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
13 - ½ cup mayonnaise
14 - ¼ cup sour cream
15 - ¼ 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 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
21 - ½ teaspoon salt
22 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled 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 as needed.
04 - Pour avocado ranch dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Add shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, then toss again to distribute throughout.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top to maintain crunchiness. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours without Doritos, adding them right before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Doritos stay somehow both crunchy and flavor-integrated, not soggy or out of place.
  • You can make almost everything ahead, then just toss and add the chips right before eating.
  • It tastes even better the next day once the dressing coats everything, so leftovers are a genuine win.
02 -
  • Add the Doritos at the very last moment before eating; they soften within ten minutes even in a sealed container, and that's a crime against this salad.
  • Make the dressing the night before if you want, but don't toss everything together more than two hours ahead; the pasta will absorb too much liquid and get mushy.
03 -
  • If you make this a day ahead, keep the Doritos completely separate and add them only when plating individual servings; they'll stay shatteringly crisp.
  • Taste the avocado ranch as you blend it; different brands of mayo have different salt levels, so you might need a pinch more salt or a squeeze of extra lime juice to balance it perfectly.
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