Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta, uncooked
- 1/2 pound 88% lean ground beef
- 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
- 6 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about ½ cup)
- 6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (about ½ cup)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Set aside.
- Cook Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it apart until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease and let the beef cool slightly.
- Combine Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, diced green chiles, halved cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn kernels, finely chopped red onion, diced jalapeño pepper, chopped cilantro, and cooked ground beef. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, spicy brown mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add Cheese and Bacon: Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled cooked bacon until distributed throughout the salad.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Give the salad a light toss before serving. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired for a fresh touch.
Notes
- To save time, use pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits.
- This pasta salad can be made a day ahead for enhanced flavor.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeño according to your preferred spice level.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- For a vegetarian version, omit ground beef and bacon and add grilled vegetables or more beans.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
