Taco Pasta Salad Avocado (Printable)

Vibrant pasta salad with taco spices, creamy avocado ranch, and crunchy Doritos topping.

# 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

# Preparation steps:

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 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 distribute throughout.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top for optimal crunchiness.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add Doritos immediately before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means you can literally make it while your guests are already on their way over.
  • The avocado ranch dressing is so silky and bright that even people who claim they don't like ranch will ask for the recipe.
  • Kids and adults eat this without complaint, which honestly feels like winning the dinner lottery.
02 -
  • The dressing will separate slightly if it sits overnight, so give it a good stir before serving and don't worry if it looks less perfectly blended than it did fresh.
  • Doritos timing is everything—add them too early and you'll have wet chip dust; too late and people will eat them off the top before the lettuce underneath, which is actually fine but funny to watch.
03 -
  • If your avocado isn't quite ripe, let it sit on the counter for a day—an underripe avocado will make the dressing grainy and less luxurious.
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad, because once it's mixed in you can't adjust the lime juice as easily, and lime juice is what makes this taste like a deliberate choice rather than just ranch.
Go back