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Loaded Cowboy Pasta Salad with fresh vegetables and dressing in a serving bowl.

Loaded Cowboy Pasta Salad

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A delightful medley of rotini pasta, savory bacon, and hearty ground beef enveloped in a creamy, zesty dressing, perfect for barbecues and potlucks.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Meat
  • 1 lb Rotini pasta
  • 1 lb thick-cut bacon (chopped)
  • 1/2 lb lean ground beef
Seasonings
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • to taste Salt and pepper
Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp McCormick barbecue seasoning OR Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp spicy mustard
  • 2 tsp chili sauce
Vegetables and Cheese
  • 1 15 oz can sweet corn, drained
  • 2 cups grape tomatoes (halved)
  • 1 1/2 cups cubed sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup diced green onions

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large pot, boil water and prepare the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Once done, strain and rinse it with cold water. Drizzle with 1 tbsp. of olive oil and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove it to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving a bit of the bacon grease in the pan.
  3. Add the ground beef to the same skillet and cook until browned. Season it with garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste. Skim away any excess grease and remove from heat.
  4. In a large serving bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, spicy mustard, and chili sauce until smooth.
  5. Add the cooked rotini, bacon, ground beef, drained corn, halved grape tomatoes, cubed cheddar cheese, and diced green onions into the bowl with the dressing. Toss until everything is fully combined.
  6. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  7. Enjoy your Loaded Cowboy Pasta Salad chilled!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 25gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 800mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

Notes

If you find yourself with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Consider omitting the tomatoes if freezing, and add extra dressing when reheating.
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