I promise that spring is on its way and it will bring the urgent need to run outside and fire up your grill. With the incredible taste of freshly grilled meat, you will need a quick and easy side dish. This cilantro ranch pasta salad fits that bill. Cooking the pasta takes no time at all and while it’s cooking, mixing up a fresh dressing just takes a couple of minutes. Toss it all together and you’re good to go.I love the versatility of pasta salad – add what you like, leave out what you don’t. I took the classic creamy dressing and gave it a ranch remix with Hidden Valley ® Original Ranch ® Salad Dressing and Dip Mix. You know the kind you find in the handy little packet in the salad dressing aisle? Yep, that’s the one in the blue and green packet. Grab it along with your favorite small pasta and a few things from the produce section and you’ll be enjoying an easy side dish with your dinner any night of the week.
The recipe below serves 6-8 as a side dish and is easily halved if you need to serve less or can be doubled it if you are serving a crowd. You could even throw in some chicken and have a complete meal.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. SMALL SHAPED PASTA, (such as gemelli, mini penne, etc.)
- 1 Tablespoon HIDDEN VALLEY ® ORIGINAL RANCH ® SALAD DRESSING & DIP MIX
- 4 Tablespoons PLAIN GREEK YOGURT
- 2 Tablespoons MILK
- 1/4 cup CHOPPED CILANTRO
- 1/2 teaspoon CRUSHED or MINCED GARLIC
- 1/2 LIME, juiced
- 1 Tablespoon CHOPPED PICKLED JALAPENO (optional, but this doesn’t make it spicy at all)
- 1/2 cup FROZEN CORN, thawed
- 1/2 cup BLACK BEANS, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup CHERRY TOMATOES, halved
- 1/2 AVOCADO, diced
Directions
Cook pasta in boiling, salted water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.
In a bowl, whisk together HIDDEN VALLEY ® ORIGINAL RANCH ® SALAD DRESSING MIX, Greek yogurt, milk, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and jalapeno, if using.
In a serving bowl, place cooled pasta, corn, black beans and tomatoes. Pour dressing over and toss to combine. You can cover and refrigerate at this point. Right before serving add avocado and toss again.
Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix is a simple way to add a flavorful kick to a classic recipe.Click here to find more classic recipes remixed with Hidden Valley Ranch. Also check out the Ranch Remix contest for your chance to win great prizes!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley Ranch Remix. The opinions and text are all mine.
