Description
This hearty Cowboy Pasta Salad combines tender pasta with crispy bacon, seasoned ground beef, and fresh vegetables in a tangy barbecue-ranch dressing. Perfect for feeding a crowd at potlucks and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dried wagon wheel pasta
- 1 pound hickory smoked bacon, diced
- 3/4 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons Spicy Brown Mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 & 1/2 teaspoons hot chili sauce
- 15-ounce can whole kernel sweet corn, drained
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 & 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 5 scallions, diced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- While pasta cooks, sauté bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.
- Wipe out skillet, leaving some bacon grease. Add ground beef and cook, breaking into tiny crumbles. Season with cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Drain fat and cool completely.
- In an extra large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot chili sauce until smooth.
- Add cooked pasta, bacon, beef, corn, tomatoes, cheese, and scallions to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to combine and coat everything evenly.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta – al dente holds up better in salads and won’t get mushy
- Let the beef cool completely before mixing to prevent the mayo from breaking
- Save some bacon grease for cooking the beef – it adds incredible flavor
- Taste the dressing before adding pasta and adjust seasonings to your preference
- For best flavor, let the salad sit for 15 minutes before serving to meld the flavors
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: bacon pasta salad, beef pasta salad, barbecue pasta salad, western pasta salad, potluck pasta salad, ranch pasta salad, hearty pasta salad, crowd-pleasing salad