southwest layered pasta salad

Name: Southwest Layered Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Cuisine: Southwestern
Ingredients: some - pasta; cooked, rinsed in cool water, drained (wagon wheel pasta is a nice touch) 1/2 pound of uncooked pasta makes enough for 4-6 servings; some - salad dressing (ranch or chipotle ranch are my favorites); some - shredded or chopped lettuce; some - tomato chunks; some - sliced black olives; some - chopped onion; some - chopped peppers (green, jalapeno, etc...); some - cooked corn, drained & cooled; some - black beans; cooked, rinsed in cool water, & drained; some - shredded or small chunks of cheese (pepper jack, colby jack, cheddar, etc...); some - crumbled fritos; ## OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER...; some - chicken strips or chunks, seasoned with southwestern spices; some - salsa; some - sour cream; some - crumbled bacon or bacon bits; some - ranch-flavored croutons, instead of crumbled fritos

(1 RATING)

76 Pinches 7 Photos

Fran Miller

Parkersburg, WV

Updated on Aug 18, 2013

After the popularity of my Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (Thank you, JAP chefs!), I thought I'd develop another salad dish, this time with a Southwestern tang. As always, choose the ingredients your family loves and realize that the amounts are always your choice. I'm just going to list what I do and give you some more options. Please share your variations! =^..^=

Rate

prep time 15 Min

cook time 15 Min

method No-Cook or Other

yield Depends on the amounts you use

Ingredients

some - pasta; cooked, rinsed in cool water, drained (wagon wheel pasta is a nice touch) 1/2 pound of uncooked pasta makes enough for 4-6 servings
some - salad dressing (ranch or chipotle ranch are my favorites)
some - shredded or chopped lettuce
some - tomato chunks
some - sliced black olives
some - chopped onion
some - chopped peppers (green, jalapeno, etc...)
some - cooked corn, drained & cooled
some - black beans; cooked, rinsed in cool water, & drained
some - shredded or small chunks of cheese (pepper jack, colby jack, cheddar, etc...)
some - crumbled fritos
OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER...
some - chicken strips or chunks, seasoned with southwestern spices
some - salsa
some - sour cream
some - crumbled bacon or bacon bits
some - ranch-flavored croutons, instead of crumbled fritos

How To Make southwest layered pasta salad

Step 1

While pasta is cooking, prepare your chopped vegetables. If using canned corn or black beans, just rinse & drain well. Cover & refrigerate until ready to assemble the salad.

Step 2

Mix the drained & cooled pasta with some of the salad dressing. Cover and refrigerate if you are not ready to eat.
Step 3

When it's time for dinner, layer the pasta, then the vegetables, in a large pasta bowl or individual salad plates.
Step 4

Top with crumbled Fritos and shredded cheese.
Step 5

Decisions, decisions... Will you top with more salad dressing or possibly salsa & sour cream?
Step 6

Whatever you decide, enjoy!
Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

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