Taco Pasta Salad Doritos Avocado (Print View)

A colorful pasta salad bursting with taco flavors, creamy avocado dressing, and crunchy Doritos.

# Components:

→ 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 - 0.5 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 0.5 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 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Avocado Ranch Dressing

12 - 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
13 - 0.5 cup mayonnaise
14 - 0.25 cup sour cream
15 - 0.25 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 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
21 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
22 - 0.25 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 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 gently to combine.
06 - Just before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos over the salad to maintain crunchiness.
07 - Serve immediately. Alternatively, refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours and add Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like someone handed you a loaded taco, but in salad form, so you don't feel guilty.
  • The Doritos stay crispy because you add them right at the end, which nobody expects but everyone appreciates.
  • You can make the whole thing in under thirty minutes, and most of that is just pasta cooking time.
02 -
  • If you add the Doritos more than five minutes before serving, they absorb the dressing and turn into sad chips, so resist the urge to prep early.
  • The avocado flesh can oxidize and turn brown if the dressing sits too long, so make it right before you serve the salad or squeeze extra lime juice on top as a protective layer.
03 -
  • Buy your avocado two or three days before you plan to make this so it's perfectly ripe, not mushy or hard.
  • Crush the Doritos by putting the bag on the counter and smashing with your hand, which keeps the powder intact instead of losing it in the air.
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