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Southwest Pasta Salad

Ultimate Southwest Pasta Salad: Fresh, Flavorful, and Fun!

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This Southwest Pasta Salad is vibrant, flavorful, and perfect for summer gatherings.
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: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 8 oz Rotini Pasta Cook per package instructions.
  • 1 can Black Beans Rinse and drain before mixing for best results.
  • 1 can Corn Frozen corn can be a convenient substitute if fresh isn’t available.
  • 1 cup Bell Pepper Feel free to switch colors or use jicama for a unique crunch!
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion For a milder option, green onions work wonderfully as a substitute.
  • 1 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes Be sure to halve them for easy mixing.
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro Parsley is a great alternative if you're not a fan of cilantro.
  • 1 cup Grilled Chicken Skip for a vegetarian twist or swap for tofu for a plant-based option.
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup Chipotle Ranch Dressing For a milder version, use regular ranch dressing instead.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Sieve
  • cutting board
  • Mixing Bowl
  • spatula or tongs
  • plastic wrap or lid

Method
 

Cooking Instructions
  1. Begin by boiling a large pot of salted water. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
  2. While the pasta cools, rinse black beans and corn in cold water to remove excess salt. Drain thoroughly.
  3. Chop the bell peppers, red onion, halve the tomatoes, and chop cilantro. Set aside.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, beans, corn, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, and cilantro. Toss gently to combine.
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and fold gently to coat all ingredients.
  6. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 10gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 300mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 8gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Allow salad to chill for better flavor. Adjust dressing to suit spice preference and customize ingredients based on seasonal availability.

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