Description
Cowboy Pasta Salad is a vibrant, crowd-pleasing dish that combines colorful veggies, savory meats, and tangy dressing for a refreshing summer meal. Perfect for potlucks and barbecues, this easy-to-make salad is not only delicious but also adaptable to your favorite ingredients. With its delightful blend of flavors and textures, it’s sure to be the star of any gathering!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers, chopped (mix of red, yellow, green)
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cooked chicken or ham, shredded or diced
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
- ½ cup Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
- While pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: chop cherry tomatoes and cucumber; dice bell peppers; slice red onion.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta with vegetables and meat.
- Drizzle Italian dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Add shredded cheese, season with salt and pepper, then gently mix again.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg