09/05/2026
Cowboy Pasta Salad
🤠 Bold, zesty, and wonderfully substantial, this Cowboy Pasta Salad brings together tender rotini, savory seasoned beef, crisp vegetables, creamy cheddar, and a lively lime dressing. 🌽🍅 It is a spirited Southwest-inspired dish that fits right in at backyard cookouts, potlucks, family gatherings, or a relaxed weeknight supper.
Ingredients
For the Salad
* 16 oz rotini pasta
* 1 tbsp olive oil, for coating the cooked pasta
* 1 lb lean ground beef (90/10)
* 1 small yellow onion, finely minced
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed
* 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained, or 12 oz frozen corn, thawed
* 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
* 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
* 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
* 1 jalapeño, finely minced, optional
* 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or cut into small cubes
* 2 green onions, thinly sliced
* ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped, optional
For the Dressing
* ½ cup olive oil
* Juice of 2 fresh limes
* 3 tbsp taco seasoning
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta 🍝
Bring a generously salted pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini and cook until al dente, roughly 9–10 minutes. Drain thoroughly, then toss the pasta with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to keep the spirals from clumping together. Set aside and allow them to cool.
2. Brown the Beef 🍳
Warm a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef along with the finely chopped onion. Cook for approximately 7–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is thoroughly browned and the onion has softened. Drain away any excess fat, then season with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
3. Whisk the Dressing 🥣
In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, freshly squeezed lime juice, and taco seasoning. Whisk until the mixture becomes cohesive and fragrant. This takes about 2 minutes.
4. Bring Everything Together 🥗
Add the cooled rotini and beef mixture to the dressing, followed by the black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red and green peppers, jalapeño, cheddar, and green onions. Toss everything thoroughly until the dressing clings to the pasta and each ingredient is evenly dispersed. Allow about 5 minutes for this step.
5. Let It Chill ❄️
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. That brief resting period gives the lime, taco seasoning, vegetables, beef, and cheese time to mingle and deepen the overall flavor.
6. Garnish and Serve 🌿
Immediately before serving, scatter the chopped cilantro or parsley over the top. Give the salad a final taste and fine-tune the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lime juice if desired.
Timing & Yield
**Prep Time:** 15 minutes
**Cook Time:** 10 minutes
**Chill Time:** 30 minutes
**Total Time:** 55 minutes
**Servings:** 8
**Calories:** Approximately 480 kcal per serving
