Description

This Cowboy Pasta Salad combines flavors of crispy bacon, savory ground beef, and fresh veggies, tossed in a creamy dressing. Perfect for a quick dinner or a refreshing side dish at gatherings, it delivers deliciousness in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound rotini pasta or any small pasta
1 pound bacon, chopped and uncooked
1 pound ground beef
1 Tablespoon taco seasoning
1 pinch red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
3 scallions, diced
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
2 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 Tablespoon hot chili sauce

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Instructions

Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Sauté Bacon: In a large nonstick skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel to drain excess grease. Discard the grease from the skillet.
Cook Ground Beef: In the same skillet, brown the ground beef, crumbling it as you cook until no longer pink. Season with taco seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
Prepare Dressing: In a large salad bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot chili sauce until well combined.
Combine Salad: In the salad bowl, add the cooked pasta, crispy bacon, cooked beef, corn, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and scallions. Toss together with the dressing and serve.

Notes

Feel free to substitute the rotini pasta with your favorite small pasta.
Add chopped bell peppers or other veggies for extra flavor and nutrition.
Adjust the amount of hot chili sauce based on your spice preference.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 900mg
Fat: 35g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 20g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 20g
Cholesterol: 65mg