Cowboy Pasta Salad (Printable)
Smoky bacon, seasoned beef, and tangy BBQ ranch tossed with pasta, veggies, and cheddar for a crowd-pleasing dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz rotini or penne pasta
→ Meats
02 - 7 oz lean ground beef
03 - 6 slices bacon
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 3/4 cup canned corn, drained
06 - 3/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
07 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
08 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
09 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 3.5 oz)
→ Dressing
11 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
12 - 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
13 - 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini or penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to cool completely. Set aside.
02 - Place bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until golden and crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then chop into small pieces.
03 - In the same skillet, add the lean ground beef over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains. Season with salt and pepper. Drain any excess fat and let cool slightly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
05 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta, browned ground beef, chopped bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, drained corn, black beans, diced red onion, diced green bell pepper, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
06 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The smoky BBQ ranch combo is the kind of flavor that makes people go back for seconds before finishing their first plate.
- It holds up beautifully at room temperature, which means no stress about keeping it cold at a cookout.
02 -
- Hot pasta will melt the cheese into a gummy mess, so patience while it cools is nonnegotiable.
- Tossing the dressing while the beef is still warm helps it absorb deeper into the meat.
03 -
- Crumble the bacon by hand instead of chopping it for irregular crunchy bits throughout.
- Letting the finished salad sit at room temperature for ten minutes before serving takes the chill off and unlocks the full flavor.