Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At Residence Chef

This is without doubt one of the most filling pasta salads on the market! It’s filled with meat, cheese, beans, and greens. Deliver to a BBQ or make as a fast and straightforward dinner at residence 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 great things. We’re speaking beef, bacon, cheddar, and veggies.
Our creamy do-it-yourself 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. — Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At Residence Chef 38

Half of this pasta salad’s flavorful goodness comes from our scrumptious, do-it-yourself dressing. It’s our secret ingredient! Keep in mind, pasta salad is barely pretty much 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 means that you can actually mess around with the warmth degree, so if you happen to prefer it sizzling, be sure to make use of medium to sizzling salsa.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead layout of Ingredients for Cowboy Pasta Salad. — Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At Residence Chef 39

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 most effective taste. Floor turkey or rooster works too if you need it somewhat lighter.
Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar brings somewhat additional punch, however truthfully, any cheese you like will work. Pepper jack can be superior if you need somewhat kick.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: Both one is ideal. Lower them in halves or quarters so that you get the right chew. A mixture of pink and yellow tomatoes seems to be 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 recent corn or frozen corn.
Purple Onion: Purple onions are the most effective 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 personal or seize the pre-cooked variety.
Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite delicate or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth degree you want.
Lime Juice: Contemporary-squeezed is all the time going to have the most effective taste, however bottled lime juice works too.

Alter the Warmth

Among the finest 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 additional jalapeño slices on high. 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. — Cowboy Pasta Salad - The Keep At Residence Chef 40

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. Prepare dinner the pasta and floor beef the evening earlier than, too. Simply maintain them separate so every little thing stays recent. While you’re able to eat, all you’ve bought to do is chop the cheese and tomatoes and toss all of it collectively in an enormous bowl. Achieved and achieved.