Description
This Cowboy Pasta Salad is a hearty and flavorful dish loaded with all your favorites – crispy bacon, seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, and plenty of cheddar cheese. Tossed in a creamy barbecue dressing, it’s perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, or family dinners. It’s easy to make, filling, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16 oz) box bow tie pasta
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 pound lean ground beef, cooked and drained
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup scallions, chopped
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Cook the bow tie pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until fully browned. Drain any excess fat and stir in the taco seasoning. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, seasoned ground beef, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, scallions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Make Ahead: This salad can be made a day in advance. The flavors will meld together beautifully overnight.
- Customization: Feel free to add other veggies like bell peppers or avocado, or spice it up with jalapeños.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8 of the recipe)
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg