Cowboy Pasta Salad
This Cowboy Pasta Salad is a comforting blend of chewy pasta, crunchy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh veggies, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta Choose rotini for better dressing adherence.
Bacon
- 4 slices smoky bacon, halal turkey bacon preferred Add crispy texture and smoky flavor.
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Use vibrant red tomatoes for freshness.
- 1 bell pepper, diced Any color adds sweetness and color.
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced Balances sweetness from other ingredients.
- 1 cup corn, fresh, frozen, or canned Rinse canned corn if used.
Dressing
- 1/2 cup creamy dressing (ranch or creamy vinaigrette) Homemade ranch is preferred.
Seasoning
- to taste salt and pepper Essential for flavor.
Garnish
- to taste fresh parsley or cilantro Optional for color and flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cool water.
- While the pasta cooks, fry the bacon in a pan until crispy. Drain on paper towels and crumble.
- Chop cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and red onion in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine the cooled pasta, bacon, chopped vegetables, and corn in the bowl.
- Drizzle with creamy dressing and toss gently to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper, then garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
- Chill in the fridge if preferred, as it tastes better after a few hours.
Notes
This Cowboy Pasta Salad is versatile; feel free to substitute ingredients based on availability. It makes for excellent meal prep and tastes even better as leftovers.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 600mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4g
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