Cowboy Bacon Pasta Salad
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.
Servings: 8 Servings
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.
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
Calories: 600kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 860mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1298IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 2mg
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