Description
Cowboy Pasta Salad with the BEST Dressing is a vibrant and hearty dish that’s perfect for any occasion, from family dinners to potlucks. This salad boasts a delightful mix of flavors, featuring seasoned ground beef or turkey, fresh vegetables, and a creamy, tangy dressing that will leave your guests asking for seconds. With its quick preparation time and customizable ingredients, this recipe is not only delicious but also adaptable to suit various tastes. Whether served chilled or warm, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings comfort and satisfaction to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound mini farfalle or small pasta (like rigatoni)
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1 can mild diced green chiles
- 1 green bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- Corn from 1 ear sweet corn
- Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- Cheddar cheese (cubed)
- For the dressing: ketchup, mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, salsa, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing by whisking together all dressing ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente; rinse under cold water and drain.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey; drain excess grease.
- Stir in diced green chiles and spices; let cool while chopping vegetables.
- In a large serving bowl, combine cooked pasta with half of the dressing. Add in the browned meat and remaining salad ingredients.
- If serving immediately, stir in the remaining dressing and enjoy! For later servings, keep dressing separate until ready to eat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (225g)
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg