This Easy Southwestern Pasta Salad is light, refreshing, and delicious. Serve as a side dish or add grilled chicken to make this a perfect meal on its own.
We love Mexican food! I especially love taco salad. My mother-in-law makes a killer Southwestern Taco Salad, it’s the dressing that makes it so spectacular.
Inspired by this and needing an easy, quick side dish to take to all our summer get-togethers. I came up with this pasta salad, using my mother-in-law’s dressing…this turned out oh so good! I added grilled chicken on top of it, which made it a complete meal. So serve it as a side dish or as the main course with your choice of meat.
Enjoy! XOXO San
How do you make Easy Southwestern Pasta Salad?
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Add all dressing ingredients to a mason jar with a lid and shake until combined; you can also add to a small bowl and stir.
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In a large bowl combine all the salad ingredients. Add dressing and toss to combine.
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Serve immediately or cover and place in the fridge until ready to serve.
Love pasta salad? Try my Easy Pasta Salad or this Mango Pasta Salad!
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board to save for later!
Easy Southwestern Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 4 teaspoons ground cumin
Pasta Salad
- 1 pound mini bowtie pasta cooked, drained and cooled
- 1 red or orange bell pepper diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 3 corn cobs cooked and kernels removed from stem or 10 oz bag frozen corn defrosted
- 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes quartered, about 1 1/2 cups
- 2 cups cilantro coarsely chopped, 1-2 bunches
- 2 avocados cubed
- 1 cup cotija cheese optional, crumbled
Instructions
- Add all dressing ingredients to a mason jar with a lid and shake until combined; you can also add to a small bowl and stir vigorously.
- In a large bowl, combine pasta, diced peppers, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, anc cilantro. Pour in dressing and toss to combine, then gently toss in the avocado and cotija cheese.
- Serve immediately or cover and place in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
Kids Review – This salad has fresh vegetables, there were a little freaked but were willing to eat the noodles. They loved that part. I took this around to neighbors, well because it makes a lot. Everyone loved it!!! First reactions were “this is so amazing and fresh”, “this feels so light and healthy, better than your normal creamy pasta salad” and “colorful”.
I love serving things like this when I have summer cookouts! It looks so good!
And I know this dish will be perfect at summer cookouts! It make a really good amount and it’s amazing! Try it out this summer! xo San
LOL to the kids’ reaction. To me, it looks super inviting and well worth pinning, which I shall do now. 🙂
The kids make me laugh all the time. One day they will realize that the veggies make for a yummy part of the dish too. 🙂 Thanks for pinning, and have fun making it this summer! xo San
I’m usually not a pasta salad person but this one looks really delicious and fresh!
It’s a great recipe! Hope you have fun making it this summer! xo San
Mmm, I can close my eyes and taste the avocado and cilantro!! YUM!!
I am imagining it now too, and it’s beautiful. 🙂 Have fun making this dish! xo San
Yum, this is my kind of recipe! I have to try it out!!
Have a great time making it! xo San
that definitely looks refreshing on a hot summer day!
It seriously is perfect for summer. xo San
This totally makes me crave a pasta salad! It’s something that I really don’t make often enough!
I can bet this recipe will be a keeper for you. 🙂 Try it out this summer! xo San
I’m normally not a pasta salad fan. But this one look quite delicious! I think I would actually like your recipe!
I am excited for you to try it out! xo San
I love pasta salad! This looks like a great summer meal or side dish.
It could totally work as either a meal or a side dish. Have fun making it! xo San
Oh man that looks So good! I am going to have to make this soon! Love pasta salads for summer!
I am excited for you to try it out! xo San
Yes, it sounds amazing. . . but it looks Beautiful!! I cant wait to serve this at a family barbeque.
This pasta salad will be a great dish there! xo San
That looks so yummy! I love all the color!!
The colors are beautiful, aren’t they? Try this dish out for a great summer meal! xo San
Mmm that looks delicious! Love the southwestern flavors. Will have to try this soon! 🙂
Southwestern flavors are AMAZING and they are great in this pasta salad. Have fun making it this summer! xo San
sounds amazing, what a perfect dish for summer picnics!
It totally would be great for a picnic! Great idea! Have fun making it! xo San
Oh my goodness, I want this right now. The blending of these ingredients is heavenly… YUM!
Doesn’t it look perfect? Try it out this summer! xo San
This looks like the perfect summer salad. Your photos are amazing and make the salad jump off the page.
Thanks for your sweet comment. 🙂 I love the colors and the dish too. xo San
That looks beautiful! I love how colorful it is!
I love how colorful it is too! Try it out this summer and wow everyone you serve it too! xo San
Oh how I love bright summer pastas! This one is of the prettier ones I’ve seen.
It is a beautiful dish for the summer! A perfect to take to a friend’s party or a family get together! Have fun make it this summer! xo San
Oh my gosh I am making this!
Do it! Have fun making it! xo San
That looks so scrumptious. A light and healthy treat!
Nothing is better than a meal that is light, healthy, and good! Try it out, and enjoy! xo San
Mmmm, this looks so delicious. Colorful, fresh and yummy!
Great for summer, huh? Totally try it out! xo San
Oh I could eat that up. It looks so good.
And it is easy. What is better than something that is good and easy?? Have fun trying it out! xo San
Oh! I love all the colors you have in there! I’m making a gluten free pasta salad for my son’s party this weekend!!
I know it’s pretty isn’t it? I am excited for you! Have fun this weekend! xo San
That looks really good! I would make a couple of minor changes for our tastes, but I’d totally make this!!
Sounds like a great idea! Have fun make it! xo San
The colors are so pretty, and the pasta makes it a little more frugal. Thanks for sharing with Let’s Get Real (I’m co-hosting this week)!
It is such a great dish! And have fun co-hosting! xo San
Thank you so much for stopping by The Weekend Social Link Party over at Kitchen Dreaming. We have pinned your recipe. Hope to see you next time!
Thank you so much for pinning! xo San
What a fun twist on a traditional pasta salad. I am like you, I like anything Mexican inspired. Any chance you would be willing to share your mother in laws taco salad too? Thank you so much for sharing.
Mmmm, this sounds so delicious! I could eat Mexican food every single day.:) Definitely pinning to make this summer to go with some of our grilling. Thanks so much for sharing on Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue.
Wow does this look amazing! And it’s loaded with lots of favorites too. I found you over The Silly Pearl. I host Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday and would love it if you linked up this recipe. I’m sure our party goers would love it as much as I do. Here is the link http://bit.ly/1l4cu0j. Have a wonderful day!!
Thanks Lori – I love your party and already linked up! xo San
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen