Cowboy Pasta Salad

5 from 1 vote

This loaded cowboy pasta salad features lean ground beef, smoked sausage and bacon all covered in a mayo barbecue sauce. It's an ideal main dish or picnic side dish.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 417kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

For the pasta salad:

12 ounces rotini pasta or penne pasta
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound smoked sausage kielbasa or andouille, sliced into half-moon shapes
6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
1 cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes halved
1 cup whole kernel corn fresh, canned, or thawed frozen
1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup cheddar cheese cubed or shredded
1/2 red onion finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro optional
1 jalapeño pepper finely diced (seeds removed for less heat)

For the dressing:

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice or apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down, then set it aside. 12 ounces rotini pasta
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease and let it cool. In the same skillet, cook the sliced sausage until browned on the edges and heated through, about 5–7 minutes. Set that aside as well. 1/2 pound lean ground beef, 1/2 pound smoked sausage
To make the dressing, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, lime juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, Salt and black pepper
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the ground beef, sausage, bacon, cherry tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated. 6 slices bacon, 1 cup cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, 1 cup whole kernel corn, 1 cup black beans, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 red onion, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1 jalapeño pepper
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Serving Amounts: As a main dish, this will serve about 6 people. As a side dish, it will serve 10-12 people.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Eat within 3 days. Do not freeze salad.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 12, with 1 serving being 1/12 of the salad. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **

Nutrition