Description
A delicious and hearty Cowboy Pasta Salad featuring ground beef, colorful vegetables, and a zesty dressing, perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces lean ground beef 90/10 preferred
- 1 small yellow onion minced
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper or to taste
- 16 ounces dry pasta (I used rotini)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil (for dressing)
- 2 limes juiced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning or (1) 1 oz packet
- 12 ounces frozen corn thawed, or (1) 15 ounce can drained
- 15 ounce black beans can, thoroughly rinsed and drained
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (4 ounces, grated or cubed)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 jalapeño diced
- 2 green onions sliced
- fresh cilantro chopped (for garnish, optional)
- fresh parsley chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add ground beef and onion over medium heat, cooking until the ground beef is browned. Drain the grease and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside to cool.
- Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packaging. Toss cooked pasta with extra virgin olive oil and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the dressing by combining the olive oil, lime juice, and taco seasoning in a large serving bowl. Whisk together until combined.
- Add the cooled pasta, ground beef, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeños, and green onions.
- Toss everything until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Taste before serving and add extra salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed!
Notes
- For a spicier salad, keep some seeds in the jalapeño.
- You can use any pasta shape you prefer.
- This salad can be made a day in advance for better flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop and mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg