cowboy pasta salad

Name: Cowboy Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ## COWBOY PASTA SALAD; 16 ounce(s) cellentani pasta; 1/2 pound(s) smoked bacon, chopped; 1 pound(s) ground beef; 1 teaspoon(s) chili powder; 1 teaspoon(s) ground cumin; 1-2 pinch(es) red pepper flakes; 2/3 cup(s) corn kernels; 1 1/2 cup(s) grape tomatoes; 1 cup(s) cubed sharp cheddar cheese; 3 green onions, thinly sliced; - salt, to taste; freshly ground black pepper, to taste; ## COWBOY PASTA SALAD DRESSING; 2/3 cup(s) mayonnaise; 1/5 cup(s) sour cream; 1/3 cup(s) barbecue sauce; 2 tablespoon(s) spicy brown mustard; 1 tablespoon(s) Worcestershire sauce; chili sauce or hot sauce, to taste

23 Pinches 1 Photo

Beth Pierce

Ofallon, MO

Updated on Jun 20, 2025

Cowboy pasta salad combines cellentani pasta, crisp cooked bacon, browned ground beef, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and blackened corn in a creamy Southwest dressing sweetened with barbecue sauce. Serve this delicious pasta salad as a main course during the hot summer months or as a crowd-pleasing party or potluck dish.

Rate

prep time 15 Min

cook time 15 Min

method Stove Top

yield 10 serving(s)

Ingredients

COWBOY PASTA SALAD
16 ounces cellentani pasta
1/2 pound smoked bacon, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1-2 pinch red pepper flakes
2/3 cup corn kernels
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes
1 cup cubed sharp cheddar cheese
3 green onions, thinly sliced
- salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
COWBOY PASTA SALAD DRESSING
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/5 cup sour cream
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
chili sauce or hot sauce, to taste

How To Make cowboy pasta salad

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions and drain well in a colander. Rinse with a little cool water to stop the cooking process.

Step 2

Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and chili sauce in a medium bowl.
Step 3

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon and remove it to paper towels to drain. Remove all but one tablespoon of bacon grease from the skillet and discard the rest.
Step 4

Add the ground beef and cook until it is about halfway browned. Add the onion and cook until the beef is brown and the onion is soft. Remove any excess grease from the skillet. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chili powder, ground cumin, and red pepper flakes.
Step 5

Place the corn in a large dry nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and toss it every few minutes until browned and charred.
Step 6

Add the drained and cooled pasta, bacon, ground beef mixture, corn, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and green onions to a large serving bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to coat. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
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