Tacos, ranch seasoning and pasta join forces to create this delicious Taco Ranch Pasta Salad! Delicious party food or side dish.
Original post: May 2016 | Updated: August 2020
Are you looking for a unique but oh-so-tasty dish to bring to your next gathering (large or small!)? Taco Ranch Pasta Salad is your match! There are so many varieties of pasta salad that make people yawn, but this is not one of those recipes.
I brought this particular salad to a party recently and got rave reviews from a family member who “does not like pasta salad.” YESsss. I always love putting the spin on a dish that changes a person’s mind.
HOW TO MAKE TACO RANCH PASTA SALAD
STEP 1
In a medium bowl, combine seasoning mix, mayo, sour cream and lime juice. Mix well and set aside.
STEP 2
In a large bowl, combine pasta, black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions and cilantro.
Add seasoned mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, top with shredded cheddar cheese and crushed Doritos!
RECIPE NOTES FOR TACO RANCH PASTA SALAD
- Add protein to this dish by adding 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken or cooked ground beef.
- Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning in place of the ranch dressing mix for a more intense taco flavor.
- For extra spice, stir in 1 diced jalapeno. Remove seeds first!
- Cut the amounts of both the mayo and sour cream in half for a slimmer recipe.
- Wait until just before serving to top with the cheese and Doritos!
- Use GF pasta for a gluten free salad!
CAN YOU FREEZE THIS RECIPE?
This pasta salad contains mayo and sour cream, which are not ideal for freezing. Cream-based ingredients will not separate entirely after being removed from the freezer and may have an undesirable texture. Eat it up!
OTHER DELICIOUS PASTA SALADS TO ENJOY!
- This is the best pasta salad recipe you will ever find. It is packed full of delicious bites (olives, salami, tomatoes and artichokes). Perfect for parties!
- This Caprese salad is a huge hit at parties! Serve this delicious dish as a side, salad or appetizer. The combination of tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and basil is absolute perfection! Everyone loves this salad.
- Spruce up your next pasta salad by making this tangy Asian Pasta Salad! Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and tons of colorful, crunchy vegetables.
- If you are a pickle lover, this Dill Pickle version is for YOU! It is creamy, flavorful and crunchy all in a single bite. This is a great, quick recipe to throw together for summer gatherings and potlucks.
- This zesty Italian Salad is a delicious cold salad that does not lack in flavor! Packed with pasta, crisp veggies, fresh mozzarella, black olives and salami.
- Easy Classic Macaroni Salad is creamy, crunchy, filling and totally delicious! You have hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery and dill pickles chopped up and mixed in.
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad – Fill your fork with an incredibly tasty salad that combines pasta with fresh, crisp vegetables and a light vinaigrette straight from the Mediterranean!
Taco Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 oz dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp Lime juice
- 16 oz rotini pasta cooked to al dente and rinsed with cold water
- 15 oz black beans drained and rinsed
- 14.5 oz corn drained
- 14.5 oz. diced tomatoes
- 1 bunch green onions sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Doritos crumbled
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine seasoning mix, mayo, sour cream and lime juice. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Add seasoned mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, top with cheese and crushed Doritos!
Notes
- Add protein to this dish by adding 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken or cooked ground beef.
- Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning in place of the ranch dressing mix for a more intense taco flavor.
- For extra spice, stir in 1 diced jalapeno. Remove seeds first!
- To slim the recipe down a bit, cut the amounts of both the mayo and sour cream in half.
- Be sure not to top with cheese and Doritos until just before serving!
- Use GF pasta for a gluten free salad!
I would add Hidden Valley Original Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix to a pasta salad for my next BBQ this Summer.
email address is s2s2 at cox dot net
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/742488840435273728
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I would make the Greek Yogurt Chicken Sliders
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/742077648646504448 truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
I love to go for picnics and this would be wonderful! truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/740279446305918976
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
I love to make veggie pizza with it!
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
Tweeted https://mobile.twitter.com/faithjacklynswe/status/739712957014286336
I’d love to make a large chef salad and homemade hidden valley ranch for my next get together!
This looks delicious. [email protected]
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/739436351674679297
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
I would add the dressing to a chicken sauce for dipping, and use the seasoning mix in a veggie dip. I would serve mac and cheese flavored with ranch dressing at my next gathering. jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
What party dish would you add Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix to?
I love roasting veggies in the oven with a bit of olive oil and Ranch Seasoning. The ranch really is yummy with the veggies and roasts nicely. I don’t feel any guilt over this snack. My family and I are loyal Hidden Valley Ranch fans.
This sounds like a great summer pasta salad! Can’t wait to try it, thanks for the idea!!
This taco ranch pasta salad looks good.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com
Tweet Entry https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/737847531305078784
I would make a ranch and feta cheese mix dip for french fries!
We are vegetarian, thinking of making this sans chicken and maybe with some tvp taco filling to make it even more hardy. Looks good.
Ooo, that sounds amazing! Please let me know how it turns out, Tracy!
Megan
I noticed that there isn’t any taco seasoning in this
Hi Jmp! Adding taco seasoning would be great! Yum!!
Megan
https://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/736633823329288192