This vibrant and flavorful pasta salad combines hearty rotini pasta with a medley of fresh vegetables, creamy avocado, and a smoky chipotle ranch dressing. It's a perfect dish for summer gatherings, potlucks, or as a satisfying weeknight dinner. Easy to prepare in under 30 minutes, this salad is both customizable and crowd-pleasing.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 12 oz rotini pasta

• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup corn (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• ½ red onion, diced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 avocado, diced

• ½ cup chopped cilantro

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Chipotle Ranch Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 tablespoon lime juice

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1–2 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped (to taste)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.

2. Prepare the Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with black beans, corn, red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, and shredded cheddar cheese.

3. Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, minced garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, chopped chipotle peppers, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.

4. Combine Salad and Dressing: Pour the chipotle ranch dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.

5. Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutritional Information (per serving, approximate)

• Calories: 370 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 45 g

• Protein: 10 g

• Fat: 15 g

• Saturated Fat: 3 g

• Cholesterol: 15 mg

• Sodium: 300 mg

• Fiber: 7 g

• Sugar: 5 g