Southwest Pasta Salad

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Southwest Pasta Salad is a scrumptious pasta-loaded potluck dish that combines the flavors of corn and black bean salsa with char-grilled sweet corn. You’ll flip for this bean pasta salad recipe!!

titled: Southwest Pasta Salad


 

Whether you need a side dish for a potluck picnic, poolside party, summer BBQ, or just a simple weeknight meal, you can never go wrong with pasta salad!

Southwest Pasta Salad

Pasta salads are ridiculously simple to make, and you can even make them the night before an event.

This means there’s one less thing to prepare before your guests arrive!

This southwestern salad is a fantastic Mexican party food dish!

It’s a vegetarian dish, but the flavors are perfect for pairing it with some pulled pork or crockpot shredded chicken.

Loaded with plenty of fresh veggies, tender rotini, cubes of cheddar, and spicy dressing, this corn and black bean pasta salad will be the star of any potluck or summer barbecue.

Another favorite southwest pasta recipe is steak fajita pasta salad. It has all the flavor of steak fajitas, and it’s easy to make for a quick summer meal!!

table full of ingredients for southwest pasta salad

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Noodles – I’m fond of rotini for pasta salad with beans, but cavatappi is a close second.
  • Tomatoes – Grape tomatoes are less watery than cherry, but either will work in this recipe. Be sure to slice them in half!
  • Corn – If sweet corn isn’t in season, you can substitute it with fire-roasted corn kernels or plain frozen corn.

    Be sure to thaw and drain frozen corn before adding it to pasta salad with beans.
  • Beans – Black beans are a signature in southwest dishes, but pinto or even dark kidney beans would be just as tasty. Drain and rinse any canned varieties.
  • Cheese – Use your favorite cheddar depending on how bold you like it. Monterey Jack is a milder alternative, while Pepper Jack adds a nice kick!
southwest pasta ingredients in large glass bowl

Bean Pasta Salad Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Skip the Grill.

    Cook ears of corn on the cob in the air fryer to keep all of your prep inside. An average-sized ear of corn on the cob yields between ½ and ¾ cup of kernels.
  • Want to adjust the spiciness? 

    Adjust the number of chipotle in adobo to reach your desired spice level. 

    I find that 2 peppers give a mild spiciness, and 3 peppers make southwest pasta moderately spicy.
  • Don’t add the dressing too soon

    As with any pasta salad, the dressing gets absorbed into the noodles as it sits. 

    If you’re not serving immediately, toss bean pasta salad with ½ of the dressing, then reserve the remaining dressing for tossing again just before serving.
  • Wear gloves! 

    Jalapeños and other spicy peppers contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. Prep spicy chiles last, and discard the gloves immediately afterward.

    This helps to prevent transferring the oils to other surfaces.
pouring chipotle ranch dressing over pasta salad

Quick Kitchen Hack to Dice Avocados

Rachel Ray Magazine has a fantastic time-saving trick for chopping avocados. All you need is a metal cooling rack that’s “griddled” (the kind with little squares in it)

Slice the avocado in half and remove the pit. Put one half, cut side down, on the rack over a bowl, then push down with your palm. The grid will cut the avocado into a perfect dice!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

  • Large pot and strainer for the rotini.
  • Quality knives and a big solid cutting board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
  • Food Processor – A food processor or high-speed blender makes the task of combining the southwest pasta salad dressing ingredients much easier.
  • Serving bowl with tongs – These bamboo hands help to toss everything gently and are attractive enough for serving as well.
overhead: pasta salad with beans, cheese, and veggies

Southwest Pasta Recipe FAQ

Is pasta salad good after 5 days?

This southwest pasta salad has a mayo-based dressing, so it will keep for 3 to 4 days when refrigerated in an airtight container.

Dairy products tend to spoil fairly quickly, especially if they’re in pasta salads that sit in the hot sun for too long.

To prevent bacteria from forming, use this tip to keep your dish cool. Fill a larger bowl with ice cubes, then nestle the serving dish with black bean pasta salad into the ice.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely! As written, this southwest pasta salad recipe yields about 8 servings as a side dish. If you add meat to the salad, it makes a fantastic main dish for 4-6 people. 

Be sure to increase the ingredient amounts of the veggies, and make additional chipotle ranch dressing if you’ll be serving a larger crowd.

What goes with cold pasta salad?

Pasta salad with beans makes an excellent side for all of your cookout favorites!

Pair it with grilled steak, a tray of sliders, or even slow cooker meatballs. For an easy weeknight meal, serve black bean pasta salad with a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

serving of southwest pasta salad next to larger bowl

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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close up: southwest pasta salad with creamy dressing

closeup: corn and black bean salad with rotini

Southwest Pasta Salad

Donna Elick
Southwest Pasta Salad is a scrumptious pasta potluck dish based on corn and black bean salsa. This creamy bean pasta salad is a must-make!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 1 day 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Tex Mex
Method Food Processor, Mixed
Servings 8 as side dish

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound rotini pasta, cooked and drained
  • 3 ears of corn, grilled and cut from cob (about 1 ½ cups kernels – see Notes for substitutes)
  • 1 ½ cups halved grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup black beans, (if canned, drained and rinsed)
  • 2 bell peppers, diced (any color)
  • 8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into cubes
  • 2 avocados, pitted, peeled and diced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Chipotle Ranch Dressing

  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 2-3 chipotle in adobo sauce, (see Notes)
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, or lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, corn, tomatoes, black beans, bell peppers, cheese, avocado, and chopped cilantro. Toss to combine.
  • Prepare the chipotle ranch dressing by placing all dressing ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Chop/blend until pureed and evenly combined. Thin with water for desired consistency as needed.
  • Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to distribute. (See Notes)
  • Serve immediately.

Donna’s Notes

  1. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3-4 days.
  1. An average sized ear of corn on the cob yields between ½ and ¾ cup of kernels. If sweet corn isn’t in season, you can substitute it with fire-roasted corn kernels, sold in the frozen food section of most grocery stores. Or, feel free to use plain frozen corn. Thaw and drain frozen corn before adding it to the salad.
  1. Adjust the number of chipotle peppers for desired spice level. I found 2 to be very mild and 3 to be moderately spicy.
  1. As with any pasta salad, the dressing gets absorbed into the pasta as it sits. If you’re not serving immediately, I recommend tossing with ½ of the dressing, and reserve the remaining dressing for tossing again just before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 4 | Calories: 606cal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 487mg | Sugar: 7g | Fiber: 9g | Calcium: 249mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): southwest salad recipe

Originally published May 2015, updated and republished June 2023

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This pasta salad was great! It has a nice southwestern tex-mex style taste that makes a great combination of flavors with the whole dish!

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