Cowboy Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is loaded with flavors. The ingredient list may seem long, but it really comes together fairly easily. Plus the homemade dressing tastes fantastic on this salad.

If you plan on preparing this salad ahead of time, wait until right before serving to add the bacon otherwise it will not stay crispy. If you have leftovers with the bacon in the salad, it will still taste delicious, the bacon just would not be crispy. An alternative would be to have the bacon on the side and add it to individual servings, that way it would stay crispy with leftover salad.

Cowboy Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 16 ounces mini farfalle pasta
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1/4 cup diced red onion
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 ounce can diced green chilies
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
• 3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 15 ounce can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• 4 ounce can diced jalapeños peppers
• 1/2 tablespoon dried cilantro
• 1/2 pound turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled

Dressing

• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• hot sauce, to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow the pasta to cool completely.
2. In a large skillet add the ground turkey and diced onions. Cook over medium heat until the turkey is crumbled and completely cooked. Drain an excess grease.
3. Add in the green chilies, chili powder, ground cumin and garlic powder, stirring to mix.
4. Set aside to cool.
5. While the meat cools, chop the green pepper, tomatoes and cheese.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
7. Add the cooled pasta to a large bowl and pour half of the dressing over top, tossing to combine.
8. Add in the cooled beef, jalapeños, green pepper, beans, corn, tomatoes, cheese and cilantro. Toss to mix.
9. If serving immediately add in the bacon and the remaining dressing, tossing to coat.

Enjoy!!!
Notes:
This salad can be served chilled, room temperature or warmed. I have only ever tried it room temperature and chilled.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 510
Total Fat		14.4g
Saturated Fat		5.6g
Polyunsaturated Fat		1.4g
Monounsaturated Fat		0.9g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		62.2mg
Sodium		715.8mg
Potassium		206.2mg
Total Carbohydrates		69.3g
Dietary Fiber		7.9g
Sugars		11g
Protein		24g
Vitamin A 72.5% Vitamin C 126.8%
Calcium 11.1% Iron 12.4%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Carlsbad Cravings.