Hearty Cowboy Pasta Salad is going to be a new family favorite pasta salad this summer. Make it for a cookout or a quick and easy dinner to enjoy on a hot night.
This fun twist on a taco salad is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. It’s packed full of beef, beans, and corn that give you Tex-Mex vibes while also doubling as a chilled salad. The dressing is my favorite part. It’s creamy and smoky. So good!
Why You’ll Love This Pasta Salad
- Packed with flavor. This pasta salad has it all: juicy ground beef, sweet cherry tomatoes, salty bacon bits, tangy barbecue sauce, and more!
- Perfect for hot weather. No one likes to cook when it’s still in the 80s in the evenings during the summer. When I still want a homemade meal, I turn to alternatives that are easy but still delicious. This is one that I make all the time.
- Kid-approved. My kiddos love this pasta dinner – it’s one of those recipes that I keep in my back pocket for hectic nights when I need a meal that I know everyone will devour.
- Adaptable. There are so many ways to switch up this cowboy pasta salad. You can use ground turkey instead of ground beef, swap out some of the veggies, etc. For more suggestions, check out the tips section below.
What You’ll Need
Below are the ingredients and seasonings needed to make this cowboy pasta salad along with the super simple dressing! To see the exact measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
For the Pasta Salad:
- Bow tie pasta – Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Bacon – Cook, crumble, and drain the fat from your bacon before adding it to the salad.
- Ground beef – Similarly, brown, crumble, and drain the fat from the ground beef.
- Taco seasoning – You can make it yourself, or use a leftover packet from a pre-made taco kit.
- Corn – Drain the can of whole kernel corn before mixing.
- Black beans – Rinse and drain the beans before adding them.
- Cherry tomatoes – Slice them in half.
- Scallions
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Monterey jack could also work if you prefer.
For the Dressing:
- Mayo
- BBQ sauce – Any brand and flavor you like or make my delicious homemade BBQ sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce
How to Make Cowboy Pasta Salad
Whipping up this cowboy pasta salad is so easy! Once all of the ingredients are combined and chilled, it’s ready to eat. For the full set of directions, check out the recipe card below.
- Prepare the pasta. Cook your pasta according to the package – it should be al dente and not mushy. Drain and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Make the salad. Mix the remaining pasta salad ingredients in a large bowl, then add the cooked and cooled pasta.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire sauce together.
- Add the dressing to the salad. Drizzle it over the pasta salad and toss until combined.
- Let it chill. Chill your salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
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- More add-ins. You can add jalapenos, diced red onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, cumin, or avocado to make this recipe your own.
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- Meat substitutes. Swap the ground beef for ground pork, turkey, chicken, or steak!
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- Cheese substitutions. You can use a different type of cheese too such as pepper jack, Monterey jack, or fiesta blend.
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- Pasta substitutions. Try elbow macaroni, fusilli, penne, or rotini pasta instead of bow tie pasta.
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- Dressing alterations. Add hot sauce for spice or honey for some sweetness.
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- Prep ahead. You can cook the bacon and ground beef and make the dressing ahead of time to make it even easier.
What Goes With Cowboy Pasta Salad?
This cowboy pasta salad recipe can be enjoyed as a full meal or a side dish! Make extra and share it at a party, or enjoy it as an easy dinner to have at home. It’s best chilled but you can eat it right after it’s made if you can’t wait.
A nice and refreshing drink is the perfect pairing with this pasta salad. I would recommend southern peach tea, strawberry sweet tea, or blueberry lemonade. For adult beverages, you can also make back porch bourbon tea or frozen boozy cherry lemonade!
Proper Storage
You can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make sure that you give the salad a good stir after removing it from the refrigerator.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
Cowboy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz box of 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
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Boil your pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the bacon, ground beef, taco seasoning, corn, black beans, tomatoes, scallions, cheese.
- Pour the pasta on top.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the dressing ingredients.
- Pour the dressing mix over the top and toss to combine.
- Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
- To store. You can store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make sure that you give the salad a good stir after removing it from the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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9 comments on “Cowboy Pasta Salad”
Sooo good! And I made it with vegan meat!
Thanks Sarah!
What can substitute for taco seasoning ?
I don’t like it. Chili mix???
Hi Susan. Yes, taco seasoning will be a good substitute in this recipe.
I have not made this yet…i am wondering if I could use kidney beans instead of the black beans
Hi Chris. Yes, kidney beans would be a good substitution with this salad.
I made the recipe and realized when I read through the instructions that the recipe omitted listing the Black Beans. They are only listed in the instructions. So I went back out and bought black beans and added back beans. If you can, please correct the recipe. The salad is delicious, thank you.
Sorry about that Alexis! I have corrected the recipe card. Thank you.
I think you left out the black beans in the ingredients listing. Can’t wait to make this salad yum, thank you, Karen