Cowboy Pasta Salad 🤠

A hearty and vibrant pasta salad featuring seasoned ground beef, a medley of fresh vegetables, and a zesty lime-taco dressing, perfect for weeknight meals, potlucks, or a healthy lunch.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Cuisine American, Southwestern

Servings 8 servings

Calories 621 kcal

Equipment

Large skillet
Large mixing bowl

Ingredients

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 such as rotini or penne
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil for pasta

For the Zesty Dressing

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 limes freshly juiced
3 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 (1-ounce) packet

For the Salad Mix-ins

12 ounces frozen corn thawed (or 1 (15-ounce) can, drained)
1 can black beans 15-ounce, thoroughly rinsed and drained
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese grated or cubed (about 4 ounces)
1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
1 red bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 jalapeño seeded and diced (optional, for a little kick!)
2 green onions sliced

Optional Garnish

Fresh cilantro chopped
Fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

In a large skillet, brown your lean ground beef with the minced onion over medium heat until the beef is fully cooked through. Drain any excess fat thoroughly to keep it light. Season with salt and pepper to your liking, then set it aside to cool completely.
Cook your chosen pasta according to the package directions until it's perfectly al dente. Drain well, then toss the cooked pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking. Let it cool down while you prepare the rest of the salad.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ½ cup olive oil, fresh lime juice, and taco seasoning. Whisk everything together until the dressing is well blended and fragrant – this is where all the zesty flavor comes from!
Add the cooled pasta, cooled ground beef, thawed corn, rinsed black beans, cheddar cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red and green bell peppers, diced jalapeño (if using), and sliced green onions into the bowl with the dressing.
Gently toss all the ingredients until everything is nicely combined and coated in the delicious dressing. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. For the best flavor, let it chill for a few hours, allowing all those incredible tastes to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad another good stir. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired, and taste to adjust seasonings – you might want a little more salt, pepper, or lime juice! Enjoy this hearty and vibrant pasta salad!

Notes

This hearty and vibrant pasta salad is perfect for weeknight meals, potlucks, or a healthy lunch. For the best flavor, let it chill for a few hours, allowing all those incredible tastes to meld together.

Nutrition Information (per serving):
Calories: 621kcal
Total Carbs: 73g
Net Carbs: 63g
Fats: 25g
Protein: 30g