Cowboy Pasta Saladrn
Cowboy Pasta Salad is a creamy, hearty, flavor-packed dish loaded with tender pasta, seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, black beans, sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and a rich ranch-style dressing. This easy recipe is perfect for quick dinners, summer cookouts, potlucks, meal prep lunches, and family gatherings. Every bite delivers smoky, savory, creamy flavors that make this pasta salad feel satisfying enough for a full meal while still being refreshing and easy to serve cold.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup sweet corn
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until al dente according to package instructions.
- 2. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it cool completely.
- 3. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease and allow the beef to cool.
- 4. Cook the bacon until crispy, then transfer to paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- 5. Slice the cherry tomatoes, drain and rinse the black beans, and prepare the green onions and shredded cheese.
- 6. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- 7. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta, ground beef, bacon, black beans, corn, tomatoes, green onions, and cheddar cheese.
- 8. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- 9. Cover and refrigerate the Cowboy Pasta Salad for at least 1 hour before serving.
- 10. Stir before serving and add extra dressing if needed for a creamier texture.
Notes
For the best texture, cook the pasta just until al dente so it stays firm after chilling.
Reserve a small amount of dressing to stir in before serving because the pasta absorbs dressing during refrigeration.
Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts more naturally into the dressing and provides better flavor than pre-shredded cheese.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 24gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 780mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5g
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