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Easy Southwest Pasta Salad Recipe

Southwest Pasta Salad

If you're looking for a vibrant and flavorful dish that's perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners, look no further than this Southwest Pasta Salad. Bursting with fresh vegetables, hearty beans, and a zesty dressing, this pasta salad is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southwestern
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Southwest Pasta Salad
  • 8 oz rotini pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup corn canned or frozen
  • 1 each red bell pepper diced
  • 0.5 each red onion finely chopped
  • 1 each avocado diced
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 0.5 cup shredded cheese cheddar or Mexican blend
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Equipment

  • Large pot for boiling pasta
  • Colander for draining pasta
  • Large mixing bowl for combining ingredients
  • Small bowl for whisking dressing
  • Cutting board and knife for chopping vegetables
  • Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient measurements
  • Serving spoon for tossing and serving the salad

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Cook the pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  2. Step 2: Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta is cooking, chop the cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and avocado. Make sure to dice them into bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
  3. Step 3: Mix the ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, rinsed black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, and shredded cheese. Gently toss everything together to combine.
  4. Step 4: Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings if necessary.
  5. Step 5: Combine and toss: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently until everything is well-coated with the dressing.
  6. Step 6: Serve or chill: You can serve the salad immediately, but for optimal flavor, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

Notes

Make a big batch at the beginning of the week, and enjoy it throughout. The flavors meld beautifully over time, making leftovers something to look forward to!