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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.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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