A colorful Tex-Mex pasta salad loaded with beans, veggies, cheddar, and avocado ranch.
# What You 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, 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
# Directions:
01 - Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water until cooled completely.
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, minced garlic, dill, parsley, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Process until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning 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, distribute crushed Doritos over the top of the salad to maintain their crunch.
07 - Serve immediately or refrigerate without Doritos for up to 4 hours. Add crushed Doritos just before serving to prevent sogginess.
