Mexican Macaroni Salad…
Let’s see, here’s what you need:
1 lb. uncooked rotini pasta
2 TBS. grated lime peel
4 TBS lime juice
1 cup ranch dressing
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 large avocado, chopped
2 cups cherry tomatoes, chopped
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 TBS chopped cilantro
1 can red kidney beans, drained
1 3.8 oz. can of sliced olives
1 4.5 oz. can green chiles, chopped
Cook the pasta, according to the directions. Rinse with cold water, drain.
Grate the limes and place the peel in a bowl. Squeeze the juice from the limes and add to the bowl with the ranch dressing, taco seasoning, and chopped avocado. Stir.
In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the remaining ingredients: cheese, olives, beans, cilantro, tomatoes, and chiles. Right before serving, pour the dressing on top and mix well.
* Dressing on pasta usually absorbs in a few hours and loses a lot of flavor. As mentioned above, I recommend holding off on the dressing until you are ready to serve it within an hour or so.
That’s it! If you want to make it more dinner-ish, add some chicken. 🙂
Mexican Macaroni Salad
Mexican Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. uncooked rotini pasta
- 2 TBS. grated lime peel
- 4 TBS lime juice
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1 package taco seasoning mix
- 1 large avocado chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes chopped
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 3 TBS chopped cilantro
- 1 can red kidney beans drained
- 1 3.8 oz. can of sliced olives
- 1 4.5 oz. can green chiles chopped
Instructions
-
Cook the pasta, according to the directions.
-
Rinse with cold water, drain.
-
Grate the limes and place the peel in a bowl.
-
Squeeze the juice from the limes and add to the bowl with the ranch dressing, taco seasoning, and chopped avocado. Stir.
-
In a large bowl, toss the pasta with the remaining ingredients: cheese, olives, beans, cilantro, tomatoes, and chiles.
-
Right before serving, pour the dressing on top and mix well.
Recipe Notes
Dressing on pasta usually absorbs in a few hours and loses a lot of flavor. As mentioned above, I recommend holding off on the dressing until you are ready to serve it within an hour or sooner.
Candace says
Perfect timing! I have a family party this weekend. Thanks!
Hannah R says
Looks delish!
jacksshack says
I LOVE getting the salad assignment!! Â I’ll be using this one-thanks!
Amanda says
I made this last week, easy and delicious – thanks!
orsoshesays says
Sweet, glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment!
Sent from my iPad
tamtam says
What is the ranch dressing? I am from Serbia and we don’t have that thing. Or at least I don’t know what it is. Could you give me at least the recipe for that? Thanks!
Mariel says
Tamara, there are many recipes online for ranch dressing. This one gets great reviews: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/homemade-ranch-dressing-recipe.html Ranch dressing is so delicious!