Cowboy Pasta Saladrn

overhead shot of Cowboy Pasta Salad in a bowl with a large wooden spoon

This cowboy pasta salad is packed with protein, pasta, veggies, and cheese for one of the heartiest salads around.

Table of Contents

Cowboy Pasta Salad Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
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If you are looking for a cowboy-sized dish, our loaded cowboy pasta salad will do the trick. This is not your average macaroni salad and is packed with plenty of protein, veggies, and cheese, plus the perfect amount of kick from the creamy dressing.

Cowboy Pasta Salad Ingredients

Cowboy Pasta Salad raw ingredients that are labeled

With a mix of tender pasta, crisp veggies, and savory seasonings, this dish has become a staple of backyard barbecues and potlucks alike.

The creamy dressing coats each bite with a delectable combination of tangy and zesty flavors.

Whether you’re a fan of traditional macaroni salad or just looking for something new to try, cowboy pasta salad is sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you craving more.

You’ll need:

For The Macaroni Salad:

16 ounces of elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 pound of lean ground beef
⅛ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 pound of smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (15.25-ounce) can of whole kernel sweet corn, drained
1 (15.25-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2¼ cups of halved cherry tomatoes
½ cup of thinly sliced green onion
2 cups of finely shredded cheddar cheese

For The Dressing:

1 cup of mayonnaise (your favorite brand)
2 tablespoons of barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
2 tablespoons of lime juice
1½ tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons of sriracha sauce
½ teaspoon of kosher salt
½ teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper

Substitutions And Additions

NOODLES: You can substitute any type of noodle for the elbow macaroni in this cowboy salad. Rotini pasta, penne pasta, or bowties would all be great options.

OIL: You can substitute extra virgin olive oil for the vegetable oil to toss the noodles in.

BEANS: Pinto beans, kidney beans, or even chickpeas would be delicious substitutions for black beans if you prefer.

How To Make This Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe

Once you cook the pasta, you will combine all of the salad ingredients and toss them with the creamy dressing.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This cold pasta salad can be made the night before you plan to serve it.

STEP ONE: Cook the elbow macaroni to al dente according to the package directions. Drain the hot water off and rinse with cold water to stop the noodles from cooking.

PRO TIP:

Be sure to drain the pasta very well so that you don’t have extra moisture in your pasta salad.

water drained out of the macaroni in a drainer

STEP TWO: Once drained, add the cooked pasta to an extra-large mixing bowl. Pour 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over the macaroni and toss. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.

vegetable oil poured on top of the macaroni in a bowl wrapped with plastic wrap

STEP THREE: Add the ground beef and red pepper flakes to a 3 to 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often. Drain any excess grease.

ground beef topped with flakes of red peppers in a pot

STEP FOUR: Add the mayo, BBQ sauce, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, sriracha sauce, kosher salt, and fresh cracked black pepper to a small bowl. Whisk to combine thoroughly. Set it aside.

mayo, barbecue sauce, lime juice, Worcestershire, dijon mustard, sriracha, salt and pepper whisked together in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Remove the macaroni from the refrigerator.

STEP SIX: Add the cooked ground beef, crumbled bacon, corn, black beans, tomatoes, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar to the pasta.

PRO TIP:

If you are making this salad the night before, leave out the tomatoes as they can soften the noodles.

ground beef, bacon, corn, black beans, tomatoes, green onions and cheddar added to the pasta in a bowl

STEP SEVEN: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat the ingredients thoroughly. Serve immediately, or cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

How To Serve

This hearty pasta salad can stand on its own as a full meal or be served as a side dish. Add our cucumber salad or Caesar salad for a little bit of extra freshness and greenery, and you will have a filling lunch or dinner to enjoy.

For a heartier option, grilled corn on the cob or fried chicken are excellent choices.

Don’t forget to check out our potato salad or taco pasta salad as two more hearty summer salad options to feed a crowd.

MORE SALAD RECIPES

Lunch

Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Side Dishes

The Best Broccoli Salad Recipe

Storage

Pasta salad doesn’t tend to do well in the freezer, but it will keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing pasta salad as the texture will become soggy once thawed.

close up shot of spoonful of Cowboy Pasta Salad

Even heartier than a typical pasta salad and with plenty of tasty ingredients, all smothered in a creamy dressing, this cowboy pasta salad is a dish that you don’t want to miss. Plan to bring this to your next potluck. It’s hearty enough for a main dish but just as perfect for a crowd-pleasing side dish

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What type of pasta is best in pasta salad?

Any bite-sized pasta works well in pasta salad. Penne, bowties, or rotini are all excellent choices.

Should I serve this pasta salad warm or cold?

This dish is meant to be served cold.

Can I freeze this salad?

We don’t recommend freezing pasta salad as the texture will change once thawed. This recipe is best made fresh.

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