Description

This Ranch Taco Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful cold pasta dish that combines creamy ranch dressing with zesty taco seasoning. Packed with rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, black beans, and corn, it’s an easy and refreshing salad perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a light meal. Garnished with cilantro and crunchy tortilla strips, this salad offers a delightful blend of textures and southwestern-inspired flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

12 ounce box rotini pasta, fully cooked and cooled
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
½ red onion, diced
15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
15 ounce can corn, drained

Dressing

1 cup ranch dressing
1 ounce packet taco seasoning

Garnish

Chopped cilantro, to garnish
Tortilla strips or Doritos, crunched on top

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Instructions

Make Dressing: In a small mixing bowl, combine the ranch dressing and taco seasoning. Whisk together until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Set aside.
Coat Pasta: In a large mixing bowl, add the fully cooked and cooled rotini pasta. Pour the prepared ranch-taco dressing over the pasta. Toss thoroughly to ensure the pasta is coated evenly with the dressing.
Add Veggies & Beans: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, diced green and red bell peppers, diced red onion, black beans, and corn to the pasta and dressing mixture. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are well distributed.
Chill: Cover the bowl and place the pasta salad in the refrigerator. Chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to cool thoroughly.
Serve: When ready to serve, garnish the pasta salad with chopped cilantro and sprinkle with tortilla strips or crunched Doritos for extra crunch and flavor.

Notes

You can substitute ranch dressing with a Greek yogurt-based ranch for a healthier option.
Make sure to cool the cooked pasta completely before mixing with dressing to avoid sogginess.
This pasta salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Add avocado or jalapeños for extra creaminess or spice.
Use gluten-free pasta to make this salad suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes (for pasta cooking)
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American