Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At House Chef

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

In the event you 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 selfmade salsa verde dressing brings a smoky kick you’ll love.
Makes for a brilliant filling dinner, or carry 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, selfmade dressing. It’s our secret ingredient! Bear in mind, pasta salad is barely 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 permits you to actually mess around with the warmth degree, so when you 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 brief pasta like fusilli or penne.
Floor Beef: We like utilizing 80/20 beef for the very best taste. Floor turkey or hen works too if you need it just a little lighter.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar brings just a little further punch, however actually, any cheese you like will work. Pepper jack can be superior if you need just a little kick.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: Both one is ideal. Lower them in halves or quarters so that you get the proper chew. A mixture of pink and yellow tomatoes appears actually fairly too.
Black Beans: Give them a very good rinse and drain to maintain issues from getting soggy.
Canned Corn: Completely positive to make use of straight from the can, however you can even use uncooked recent corn or frozen corn.
Crimson Onion: Crimson onions are the very best for consuming uncooked.
Jalapeño: Completely non-compulsory! Contemporary jalapeños add a pleasant spicy crunch, or use pickled for rather less warmth.
Bacon: Crumble it up! Prepare dinner your individual or seize the pre-cooked variety.
Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
Lime Juice: Contemporary-squeezed is all the time going to have the very best taste, however bottled lime juice works too.

Alter the Warmth

Probably the greatest issues about cowboy pasta is how simple it’s to tweak the spice. In the event you’re into warmth, seize a sizzling salsa verde, bump up the chili powder, and toss just a few further jalapeño slices on high. Not a fan of spicy? Keep on with gentle 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 simple to make forward. You’ll be able to whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Prepare dinner the pasta and floor beef the night time earlier than, too. Simply maintain them separate so all the things stays recent. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve acquired to do is chop the cheese and tomatoes and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Executed and performed.