Cowboy Pasta Salad (Printable)
Beef, bacon, and veggie pasta tossed in smoky BBQ ranch dressing for a crowd-pleasing side or main.
# What goes in:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz rotini or penne pasta
→ Meats
02 - 10 oz ground beef
03 - 6 slices bacon, chopped
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
06 - ½ red onion, finely chopped
07 - ½ cup pickled jalapeño slices (optional)
08 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Cheese
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Dressing
10 - 1 cup ranch dressing
11 - ¼ cup BBQ sauce
12 - 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini or penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
02 - While the pasta cooks, place chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until evenly crispy and golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
03 - In the same skillet, add the ground beef and cook over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain any excess fat and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool slightly.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, browned ground beef, crispy bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, drained corn, chopped red onion, pickled jalapeño slices, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce if using until smooth and well blended. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly until every component is evenly coated.
06 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. For the best flavor development, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It tastes like a cheeseburger and a BBQ platter had a baby, but you eat it with a fork at room temperature.
- The BBQ ranch dressing is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything once you try it.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the pasta under cold water or you will end up with a gummy, sticky mess that no amount of dressing can fix.
- Let the beef cool for at least ten minutes before adding it or the cheddar will clump and melt into strange little cheese blobs.
03 -
- Cook the bacon in the same pan you use for the beef so every bit of rendered fat infuses the meat with smoky depth.
- Make the dressing first and let it sit in the fridge while you prep everything else so the flavors marry before they hit the pasta.