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Creamy Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad Recipe with Easy Avocado Ranch Dressing

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A fresh and hearty pasta salad featuring black beans, corn, and crisp veggies tossed in a creamy avocado ranch dressing. Perfect for quick meals, potlucks, and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz rotini or spiral pasta
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen (thawed)
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
  • 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
  • ½ cup buttermilk or milk of choice
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, dice the red bell pepper, finely chop the red onion, halve the cherry tomatoes, and mince the jalapeño if using. Rinse and chop the cilantro roughly. Drain and rinse 1 cup black beans, and if using frozen corn, thaw and drain 1 cup corn kernels.
  3. In a blender or food processor, combine 1 ripe avocado, ½ cup buttermilk, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried dill, plus ½ teaspoon salt and some black pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If too thick, add a splash more milk.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, onion, cherry tomatoes, jalapeño, and cilantro. Pour the avocado ranch dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together until well coated.
  5. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors marry. Give it a gentle stir before plating. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Rinse pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to stop cooking and prevent sogginess. Use ripe avocado for a smooth dressing. Add dressing gradually to avoid soggy salad. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. Store dressing separately if storing salad for more than a day. Can substitute gluten-free pasta or spiralized zucchini for gluten-free option. For vegan, use plant-based yogurt and milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, cowboy caviar, avocado ranch dressing, black beans, corn, easy pasta salad, creamy dressing, summer salad, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/creamy-cowboy-caviar-pasta-salad-recipe-with-easy-avocado-ranch-dressing/