Southwest Pasta Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing

This easy Southwest Pasta Salad could be a meal all on its own! Loaded with great southwest ingredients like, beans, corn, peppers, cilantro, and much more. All dressed with the creamiest Avocado Ranch Dressing.

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a pasta salad I didn’t enjoy. There are so many variations with delicious dressings to go with them. They are easy to make and most people love pasta salad, so it’s usually a safe dish to share with others.

Southwest Pasta Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing is probably my top 3 favorite pasta salads right now. It has tons, and I mean tons of goodies like corn, beans, olives, cheese, cilantro, tomatoes and peppers. It’s dressed with a thick and creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing that has a bold zesty flavor everyone will love.

Ingredients For Southwest Pasta Salad with Avocado Dressing:

For the salad-

• Spiral pasta
• Black beans
• Corn
• Bell peppers
• Red onion
• Cilantro
• Black olives
• Tomatoes
• Cheddar cheese

For the dressing-

• Avocado
• Plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• Ranch mix or 1 tablespoon Homemade
• Chili powder
• Lime
• Avocado oil
• Honey
• Cilantro
• White vinegar
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Add Shredded Chicken For A Complete Meal:

This salad is great as is. Try adding extra protein like shredded rotisserie chicken for a complete and filling meal.

Want it spicy?

Add a small chopped jalapeno, seeded, and membranes removed for a little extra heat. 

Making Southwest Pasta Salad is Easy and fast:

Step 1. Add Avocado Ranch Dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until thick and creamy. For a thinner dressing add a splash of water.

Step 2. Combine pasta salad ingredients with half of the avocado dressing in a large bowl until pasta and veggies are well coated. Use more dressing as needed.

Storing Pasta Salad:

Refrigerate pasta salad in a sealed container until ready to eat. Toss again with a little more dressing just before serving.

We love to serve this salad with grilled chicken or burgers, or make a batch to enjoy during the weekday for easy lunches.

Other recipes you might enjoy:

• Pasta Primavera
• Bruschetta Pasta Salad with Sweet Balsamic Dressing
• Easy Cauliflower Salad (low carb)

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Let’s eat!🤍

Southwest Pasta Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing

This easy Southwest Pasta Salad could be a meal all on its own! Loaded with great southwest ingredients like, beans, corn, peppers, cilantro, and much more. All dressed with the creamiest Avocado Ranch Dressing.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish, Sides

Cuisine American

Servings 5

Calories 386 kcal

Ingredients

  

Pasta Salad

• 12 oz spiral pasta (or medium shaped pasta) cooked according to package instructions.
• 1 (15oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup canned or thawed frozen corn
• 1 cup bell peppers, diced small (any color)
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced small
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 2.5 oz can sliced black olives
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Avocado Dressing

• 1 large ripe avocado
• 1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp powdered ranch mix
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1 lime, juiced
• 4 tbsp avocado or olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• pinch of cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

 

Avocado Dressing

• Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Place in fridge until ready to use.

Pasta Salad

• Add cooked pasta to a large bowl and add all the pasta salad ingredients. Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 of the avocado dressing over the top and toss gently until well coated. Use more dressing if needed. Serve immediately or place in fridge until ready to serve.
• Pasta salad will keep for 2-3 days in refrigerator, Add more dressing if desired.

Notes

Tips:

Add chicken- Shredded chicken is a great way to add more protein. I like to use a store-bought rotisserie to make it even easier. 

Extra spice- Add a small chopped jalapeno, seeded and membrane removed for a little extra heat. 

Beans- Use other beans like red kidney, pinto or garbanzo.

Pasta- Any medium shape pasta will work for this pasta salad – bowtie, penne, fusille, etc..

Storing pasta salad- Refrigerate pasta salad in a sealed container until ready to eat. Toss again with a little more dressing just before serving.

 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

Keyword Avocado, bell peppers, black olives, Cheese, Cilantro, Corn, Healthy pasta salad recipes, pasta, Pasta salad, Ranch mix, Red onion, tomatoes

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