Description
This Cowboy Pasta Salad is a hearty and flavorful dish that’s perfect for potlucks and cookouts. With a delicious combination of pasta, bacon, ground beef, and veggies tossed in a tangy barbecue ranch dressing, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta
- 1/2 pound cooked bacon, chopped
- 1/2 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and transfer to a large bowl.
- Combine ingredients: Add bacon, ground beef, cherry tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, red onion, and green onions to the bowl.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together barbecue sauce and ranch dressing in a small bowl until smooth.
- Toss everything together: Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and mix until well coated.
- Season and chill: Season with salt and pepper, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Great for potlucks and cookouts.
- Can use ground turkey or omit meat for a vegetarian version.
- Add diced avocado for extra creaminess.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
