Cowboy Pasta Salad
Cowboy Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful southwestern-inspired dish perfect for summer BBQs and gatherings. This easy-to-make salad combines hearty pasta with crisp veggies, smoky bacon, black beans, fresh corn, and a zesty creamy dressing, delivering a refreshing and colorful side that pleases both kids and adults alike.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (including chilling time)
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook (aside from boiling pasta and cooking bacon)
- Cuisine: Southwestern
- Diet: Gluten Free (use gluten-free pasta)
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pasta (rotini or penne), cooled
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup fresh corn kernels (fresh off the cob preferred)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Veggies and Bacon: Slice cherry tomatoes, dice the red bell pepper, chop green onions, and cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Crumble bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix the Dressing: In a bowl, combine ranch dressing, fresh lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir well to incorporate all flavors.
- Toss Everything Together: In a large bowl, add cooked pasta, black beans, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, green onions, bacon bits, and chopped cilantro. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld. Garnish with extra cilantro or bacon bits if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use tri-color rotini for an extra colorful presentation.
- Drain black beans and corn thoroughly to prevent sogginess.
- Fresh corn off the cob adds best crunch, but well-drained frozen corn can be used.
- Ensure bacon is crispy to provide texture contrast.
- Make the salad a day ahead to deepen the flavors and reduce party day prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Cowboy Pasta Salad, southwestern salad, summer BBQ side, pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, picnic salad, easy pasta salad
Find it online: https://marysplate.com/cowboy-pasta-salad/