Taco Pasta with Doritos (Printable)

A colorful pasta mix with bold taco spices, crunchy chips, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado ranch.

# 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 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
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 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a large mixing 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 and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Add shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, then toss again to distribute throughout.
06 - Immediately before serving, sprinkle crushed Doritos over the salad to maintain crunchiness.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add crushed Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Doritos stay delightfully crunchy because you add them at the last second, unlike every other salad that turns into mush.
  • One dressing does all the heavy lifting, so there's no juggling multiple bottles or whisking forever.
  • It feeds a crowd without requiring you to babysit anything while it cooks.
02 -
  • Never let the Doritos sit in the dressing for more than 15 minutes or they absorb moisture and turn into mushy paste instead of staying that satisfying crunch.
  • Rinsing the hot pasta under cold water stops the cooking process instantly, which prevents overcooked pasta that falls apart when tossed.
03 -
  • Buy your avocado two days before you plan to make this so it's perfectly ripe when you blend it, not brown or hard.
  • Keep the unused half of the red onion in a sealed container; it tastes noticeably better and holds flavor more cleanly than pre-cut onions sitting in the fridge.
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