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This Easy Pasta Salad is perfect for summer!

Cowboy Pasta Salad is going to be your new favorite pasta salad this summer. This is a hearty pasta salad that is perfect as a side dish for any cookout but also makes a quick, cool dinner when it is hot outside. Ground beef, bacon, corn, black beans, get tossed with a delicious bbq dressing and bowtie pasta.

There is nothing I love more an easy side dish that I can just throw together and take to a bbq or cookout or have on the side of some delicious grilled burgers.

I love that I can just throw everything in a bowl, mix it together and let it sit and get more and more delicious. This is always a hit whenever I make it and it also makes a fabulous lunch.

This pasta is just so full of flavor and so delicious I could not believe it! This has great ingredients like bacon, ground beef, corn and beans and is tossed in a great dressing made with bbq sauce, mayo and worcheshire sauce,

I love that you can customize this to your family’s taste, make it spicy, add your favorite veggies, add your favorite beans, you can totally make this recipe your own.

Can we also take a minute to talk about how you will be the hit of the cookout with this pasta salad!  Everyone gets tired of the same old pasta salad and this one will blow them away.  You will have no leftovers when you take this anywhere.

Next time you want a crowd-pleasing side dish that everyone will love, just throw these ingredients together and let it sit and get more and more delicious.  

I promise your whole family will love this Cowboy Pasta Salad. 

You will want to make this pasta again and again! We do!

You will love this recipe because it is

• Easy and fast.
• Family-friendly.
• Crowd favorite.
• Full of flavor.
• Great to make ahead.
• Perfect for cookout and get-togethers.

How to make this pasta salad

Can I substitute the ground beef?

Yes, you can use ground sausage, ground turkey, or even cooked shredded chicken.

What other veggies can I add?

You can add any of your favorite veggies that your like in pasta salad, broccoli, carrots or cucumbers would be great in this. 

Can I make this spicier?

You can add red pepper flakes, jalapenos, green chiles or sriracha to give this a kick. 

 

Ingredients used

• Bowtie Pasta – You can use any short pasta you like.
• Bacon – You can brown and crumble your bacon or used precooked.
• Lean Ground Beef – I like to use lean for this.
• Taco Seasoning – This gives this lots of flavor.
• Corn – You can use fresh, canned or frozen.
• Black Beans – Drain and rinse them, you can also use light red kidney beans.
• Cherry Tomatoes –  For a pop of color and flavor.
• Scallions – For garnish and flavor.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – You can also use shredded pepperjack. 

Dressing

• Mayo – For the base of the sauce, I like to use Duke’s.
• BBQ Sauce – Use your favorite flavor bbq sauce.
• Worcheshire Sauce – Just for a pop of flavor. 

How to make this BBQ Pasta Salad

 

1. FULL RECIPE BELOW
2. Boil your pasta until al dente.
3. Drain and rinse under cold water and set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl combine the bacon, ground beef, taco seasoning, corn, black beans, tomatoes, scallions, cheese.
5. Pour the pasta on top.
6. In a small mixing bowl combine the dressing ingredients.
7. Pour the dressing mix over the top.
8. Toss all the ingredients together.
9. Chill for 2 hours.
10. Serve!

Want more Summer Side Dish Recipes? Check these out!

• Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
• Slow Cooker Cowboy pork and beans

• Bacon Pimento Cheese Potato Salad

• Deviled Egg Potato Salad
• Hoagie Sub Pasta Salad
• Creamy Macaroni Salad

Cowboy Pasta Salad

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Chill Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Cowboy Pasta Salad is going to be your new favorite pasta salad this summer. This is a hearty pasta salad that is perfect as a side dish for any cookout but also makes a quick, cool dinner when it is hot outside. Ground beef, bacon, corn, black beans, get tossed with a delicious bbq dressing and bowtie pasta.

Print

Ingredients

• 16 ounces bowtie pasta
• 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 pound lean ground beef, cooked and drained
• 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
• 1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• ½ cup scallions, chopped
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Dressing
• 1 cup mayo
• ¼ cup bbq sauce
• 2 Tablespoons worcheshire sauce

Instructions

1. Boil your pasta until al dente.
2. Drain and rinse under cold water and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine the bacon, ground beef, taco seasoning, corn, black beans, tomatoes, scallions, cheese.
4. Pour the pasta on top.
5. In a small mixing bowl combine the dressing ingredients.
6. Pour the dressing mix over the top.
7. Toss all the ingredients together.
8. Chill for 2 hours.
9. Serve!

Notes

Store leftovers in an airight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can add jalapenos to this for a spicy kick.

Use your favorite cheese, pepperjack would be wonderful.

You can totally make this your own and add any other veggies you like.