Satisfy even the hungriest of crowds with our Cowboy Pasta Salad. This dish is a meal in itself, packed with hearty ingredients like ground beef, cheddar cheese, black beans, and bacon. Half of its flavorful goodness comes from the delicious homemade dressing. Our homemade cowboy dressing is made with salsa verde, lime juice, and plenty of smoky spices and seasonings.

For more cowboy flavor, try Cayt’s Cowboy Butter and add it to all your meats and veggies.

Why Our Recipe

  • This pasta salad packs a Tex-Mex punch with salsa verde and all the flavor.
  • It’s a meal in a bowl loaded with ground beef, cheddar cheese, black beans, and bacon.
  • Keep it mild or dial up the heat with jalapeno mixed in.

You can totally make this salad your own. The salsa verde in the dressing gives you the freedom to dial up the heat or keep it mild, depending on what you like. With all those bold, smoky flavors, it’s the perfect dish for potlucks, barbecues, or any get-together where you want to wow your guests.

Ingredient Notes

  • Rotini Pasta: Rotini is perfect for holding onto all that flavorful dressing. If you don’t have rotini, you can substitute with another short pasta like fusilli or penne.
  • Ground Beef: Go for 80/20 ground beef for the best balance of flavor and juiciness. If you prefer a leaner option, ground turkey or chicken works too.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a nice bite to the salad, but you can use any cheese you love. Pepper jack or Monterey jack would also be great.
  • Jalapeño: This is optional, but it adds a great kick if you like a bit of heat. You can remove the seeds for a milder flavor, or leave them in for extra spice.
  • Salsa Verde: The star of the dressing! Use mild or spicy salsa verde depending on your heat preference. If you can’t find salsa verde, tomatillo salsa or even regular red salsa can work in a pinch.
  • Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice gives the best flavor. Bottled lime juice will work too.
  • Smoked Paprika: Adds a smoky depth to the dressing. If you don’t have smoked paprika, regular paprika will do, but you’ll miss out on that smoky flavor.

Variations

Add Avocado: Toss in some diced avocado just before serving. They add a nice creaminess.

Swap the Protein: Not in the mood for ground beef? No problem! You can substitute it with ground turkey, grilled chicken, or even chorizo for a spicier kick.

Mix Up the Beans: Black beans are a classic, but you can change things up by using pinto beans, kidney beans, or even chickpeas.

Extra Veggies: Roasted bell peppers, diced cucumbers, or even some shredded lettuce can add a little crunch.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This salad can easily be made ahead. You can make the dressing 1-2 days before you plan to use it. You can also prepare the pasta and ground meat the night before you serve your cowboy pasta — just be sure to store them separately. Then, when you’re ready to eat, all that’s left to do is chop up the cheese and tomatoes and put the rest of the ingredients together in a large bowl!

Storage Instructions

You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for 2-3 days.

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