Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At Residence Chef

This is likely one of the most filling pasta salads on the market! It’s full of meat, cheese, beans, and greens. Convey to a BBQ or make as a fast and simple dinner at house and we promise there received’t be any complaints about leaving hungry!

For those who love this recipe, you’ll love our “cowboy caviar” Black Bean and Corn Salad.

Why Our Recipe

Loaded with all the good things. We’re speaking beef, bacon, cheddar, and veggies.
Our creamy home made salsa verde dressing brings a smoky kick you’ll love.
Makes for a brilliant filling dinner, or deliver it to a potluck or BBQ to feed a crowd.

A Bowl full of Cowboy Pasta Salad displaying the ingredients on top.

Half of this pasta salad’s flavorful goodness comes from our scrumptious, home made dressing. It’s our secret ingredient! Bear in mind, pasta salad is simply nearly as good because the dressing you placed on it. Our cowboy dressing is made with salsa verde, lime juice, and loads of smoky spices and seasonings. The salsa lets you actually mess around with the warmth stage, so for those who prefer it sizzling, be sure to make use of medium to sizzling salsa.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead layout of Ingredients for Cowboy Pasta Salad.

Rotini Pasta: Rotini’s nice for grabbing onto all that dressing. No rotini? Use one other quick pasta like fusilli or penne.
Floor Beef: We like utilizing 80/20 beef for the most effective taste. Floor turkey or rooster works too if you need it a little bit lighter.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar brings a little bit further punch, however actually, any cheese you’re keen on will work. Pepper jack can be superior if you need a little bit kick.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: Both one is ideal. Minimize them in halves or quarters so that you get the right chunk. A mixture of crimson and yellow tomatoes seems actually fairly too.
Black Beans: Give them a very good rinse and drain to maintain issues from getting soggy.
Canned Corn: Completely advantageous to make use of straight from the can, however you may as well use uncooked contemporary corn or frozen corn.
Purple Onion: Purple onions are the most effective for consuming uncooked.
Jalapeño: Completely optionally available! Recent jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
Bacon: Crumble it up! Cook dinner your individual or seize the pre-cooked type.
Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite delicate or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth stage you want.
Lime Juice: Recent-squeezed is at all times going to have the most effective taste, however bottled lime juice works too.

Modify the Warmth

Probably the greatest issues about cowboy pasta is how straightforward it’s to tweak the spice. For those who’re into warmth, seize a sizzling salsa verde, bump up the chili powder, and toss a couple of further jalapeño slices on prime. Not a fan of spicy? Keep on with delicate salsa and skip the chili powder and jalapeños. Simple!

Closeup image of Cowboy Pasta Salad with dressing drizzled over it.

Make-Forward Directions

This salad’s tremendous straightforward to make forward. You’ll be able to whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Cook dinner the pasta and floor beef the evening earlier than, too. Simply maintain them separate so all the things stays contemporary. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve obtained to do is chop the cheese and tomatoes and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Finished and carried out.