Cowboy Pasta Salad (Printable)

Beef, bacon, and cheddar pasta tossed in a smoky BBQ ranch dressing for a hearty side or main.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini or penne and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold running water to halt cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
02 - Place the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are evenly browned and crisp. 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. Drain off any excess fat and season with salt and pepper. Let the beef cool slightly.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, add 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 small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce if using until smooth and well blended.
06 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly until every ingredient is evenly coated. Taste 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 -
  • The BBQ ranch dressing is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything once you taste it.
  • It travels beautifully to potlucks and actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a while.
  • Ground beef and bacon make this substantial enough to serve as a full meal without anything else.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the pasta or the dressing will slide right off instead of clinging to every surface.
  • Letting the beef and bacon cool before mixing prevents the cheese from melting into clumps.
03 -
  • Cook the bacon slightly longer than you think it needs because it softens once it hits the cold pasta and dressing.
  • Make a double batch of the BBQ ranch dressing and keep it in the fridge for sandwiches and wraps later in the week.

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