Description
Cowboy Pasta Salad is a hearty, flavorful side dish with a delicious combination of pasta, crisp veggies, beans, and savory seasonings. Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or as a fun twist on traditional pasta salad!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni or rotini pasta
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6 strips)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain, and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, diced bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, black beans, and cilantro (if using).
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Feel free to swap the vegetables to suit your preferences, such as adding corn or cucumbers for extra crunch.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, add jalapeños or a bit of hot sauce to the dressing.
- This salad can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to develop even more.
- For a lighter version, you can use Greek yogurt instead of ranch dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Light Meal
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg