Easy Cowboy Pasta Salad with Ranch & Bacon

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I throw collectively this cowboy pasta salad after I need one thing simple however loaded with taste, beef, bacon, beans, and a dressing that brings all of it collectively. It’s all the time successful. Yeehaw!

Overhead shot of cowboy pasta salad in a serving dish.

Table of Contents

Saddle Up! Causes This One’s a Showstopper

Balanced taste that works: The combination of pasta, seasoned beef, crispy bacon, veggies, and cheese, all blended with a creamy BBQ dressing, is the proper steadiness of hearty, crunchy, and satisfying!
Holds up for meal prep: Stays creamy and scrumptious even after a day within the fridge, which makes it splendid for potlucks or weekday lunches.
Crowd-tested and dependable: I took the time to get the substances, particularly the dressing, good, so you recognize it’s going to prove good each time!

Substances Wanted

Overhead shot of labeled pasta salad ingredients.

Floor Beef: Substitute the bottom beef with floor turkey or floor sausage for those who desire.
Bacon: My favourite tip is to make use of precooked bacon! Simply warmth it within the microwave and growth, the bacon is completed.
Make it your personal: In order for you, you’ll be able to change up the meat, veggies, beans, or cheese primarily based on what’s in your fridge.
Add Extra Kick: Cube up extra jalapeños or add a few shakes of cayenne pepper or scorching sauce in your dressing!

Overhead shot of labeled dressing ingredients.

How you can Make Cowboy Pasta Salad

I like making pasta salads as a result of they’re fast to throw collectively and satisfying. You most likely have already got the whole lot you want in your fridge and pantry. The great thing about this recipe is which you can change issues up to make use of what you might have!

Boil the Pasta: Cook dinner the bowtie pasta till al dente based on the bundle directions. Drain the pasta and put aside.
Cook dinner the Beef: In a big skillet, prepare dinner and brown the bottom beef over medium-high warmth, about 7-10 minutes, then season with salt and pepper to style.
Mix: In a big bowl, mix the cooked pasta, cooked floor beef, cooked and crumbled bacon, halved grape tomatoes, corn, black beans, cubed cheddar cheese, crimson bell pepper, inexperienced onion, and jalapeno.
Whisk the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, and floor cumin.
Costume the Salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta salad substances after which toss to mix.
Serve: Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve cowboy pasta salad instantly! If you happen to’re not serving instantly, wait so as to add the dressing till proper earlier than serving.

How you can Retailer Cowboy Pasta Salad

Within the Fridge: Retailer in an airtight container within the fridge for 1–2 days.
Reviving: The pasta will absorb a number of the dressing because it chills. Make somewhat further dressing to stir in earlier than serving.
Make Forward: You may prep this pasta salad a day forward, simply wait so as to add the dressing till serving, or toss in half and add the remainder later to maintain it recent.

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Cook dinner 1 (12-ounce) field bowtie pasta till al dente based on the bundle directions. Drain the pasta and put aside.
In a big skillet, prepare dinner and brown 1 pound lean floor beef over medium-high warmth, about 7-10 minutes. Season the meat with salt and pepper to style.
In a big serving bowl, mix the cooked pasta, cooked floor 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 massive diced crimson bell pepper, 1 bunch chopped inexperienced oniononion, and 1 diced jalapeno.
In a medium bowl, whisk collectively 1¼ cups mayonnaise, ½ cup bbq sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and 1 teaspoon floor cumin.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad substances and toss to mix.
Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve instantly! If you happen to’re not serving instantly, wait so as to add the dressing till proper earlier than serving.

Storage: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 2 days. The pasta absorbs dressing because it sits, so add a splash of additional dressing to revive it.

Energy: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 24gFats: 51gSaturated Fats: 15gPolyunsaturated Fats: 18gMonounsaturated Fats: 14gTrans Fats: 0.3gLdl cholesterol: 98mgSodium: 860mgPotassium: 456mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1298IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 228mgIron: 2mg