Cowboy Bacon Pasta Salad

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Hearty and packed with protein, this bacon pasta salad combines savory beef, crisp veggies, and a creamy kick for a simple dinner or BBQ side.

Prep Time30

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cowboy bacon ranch pasta salad, cowboy pasta, cowboy pasta salad recipe

Servings: Servings

Author: Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

1 (12-ounce) box bowtie pasta
1 pound lean ground beef
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
1 cup halved grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
1 (14.5-ounce) can corn drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
8 ounces cubed cheddar cheese
1 large diced red bell pepper
1 bunch chopped green onion
1 diced jalapeno
chopped cilantro for garnish

Dressing

1¼ cups mayonnaise
½ cup bbq sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

Cook 1 (12-ounce) box bowtie pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
In a large skillet, cook and brown 1 pound lean ground beef over medium-high heat, about 7-10 minutes. Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cooked ground beef, 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon, 1 cup halved grape tomatoes, 1 (14.5-ounce) can corn, 1 (14.5-ounce) can black beans, 8 ounces cubed cheddar cheese, 1 large diced red bell pepper, 1 bunch chopped green oniononion, and 1 diced jalapeno.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1¼ cups mayonnaise, ½ cup bbq sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon ground cumin.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients and toss to combine.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately! If you're not serving immediately, wait to add the dressing until right before serving.

Video

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so add a splash of extra dressing to revive it.

Nutrition

QR code

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