Cowboy Pasta Salad with the BEST Dressing!

This Cowboy Pasta Salad is purely addicting loaded with juicy ground beef, bacon, sweet corn, black beans, tomatoes and cheese smothered in tangy, creamy southwest barbecue sauce! Perfect for potlucks or make ahead dinners!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 pound mini farfalle or other small pasta such as rigatoni or shells
• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey (see note)
• 1 4 oz. can mild diced green chiles
• 1 tsp EACH chili powder, ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, salt ((omit salt if using ground turkey and bouillon) )
• 4-6 tablespoons diced canned/pickled jalapeno peppers ((from 4 oz. can))
• 1 green bell pepper (chopped)
• 1 15 oz. can black beans (rinsed and drained)
• corn from 1 ear sweet corn
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 cup cubed sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 small red onion (chopped)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 pound thick center cut bacon (cooked and chopped)
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream (may sub plain Greek yogurt)
• 1/4 cup salsa (medium if you like a kick)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
• 1/4 tsp EACH smoked paprika, salt, pepper
• Hot sauce/Tabasco to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Whisk together all of the Dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Add plenty of Tabasco to taste. Set aside.
2. 2Cook pasta just until al dente according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and drain. Add to a large serving bowl and toss with half of the dressing.
3. 3Brown meat in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off excess grease. Stir in green chiles and all spices. Set aside to cool while you chop your veggies.
4. 4Add beef and all remaining salad ingredients to pasta except bacon.
5. 5If serving immediately, add bacon and stir in desired amount of dressing. If not serving immediately, hold bacon and dressing and add when ready to serve. Add hot sauce for spicier, apple cider vinegar for tangier, brown sugar for less tangy if desired.
6. 6Cowboy Pasta Salad can be served slightly chilled, at room temperature, or heated through. Leftovers are equally delicious heated in the microwave.