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Southwest Pasta Salad

Colorful Southwest Pasta Salad for Easy Summer Picnics

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This Southwest Pasta Salad is a colorful and customizable dish perfect for summer picnics, ready in under 20 minutes and sure to please a crowd.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Southwestern
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 8 ounces rotini pasta substitute with any medium-sized pasta
  • 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn can substitute with fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 cup bell pepper any color; diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped; soak in water to reduce bite
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved; grape tomatoes can be used
  • 1/4 cup cilantro chopped; omit if not a fan
  • 1 cup grilled chicken can be omitted for a vegetarian option
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup chipotle ranch dressing or regular ranch for a milder flavor

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Large spoon or spatula

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Southwest Pasta Salad
  1. Boil the pasta by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add rotini pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Prepare the veggies by combining black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and cilantro in a mixing bowl.
  3. Combine the ingredients by adding the cooled pasta to the bowl. Drizzle in chipotle ranch dressing and mix thoroughly.
  4. Chill for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  5. Serve and enjoy as a side dish or light main course, garnished with extra cilantro or lime.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 10mg

Notes

This salad is perfect for summer gatherings and can be prepared in advance. The flavors blend beautifully when allowed to chill.

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