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Southwest Pasta Salad

Zesty Southwest Pasta Salad That's Perfect for Meal Prep

This colorful Southwest Pasta Salad, tossed in creamy chipotle ranch, is perfect for any gathering and easy to customize.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Southwest
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 8 oz Rotini Pasta Cook according to package directions.
For the Salad
  • 1 can Black Beans Rinse well.
  • 1 cup Corn Canned, fresh, or frozen work.
  • 1 Bell Pepper Use red, yellow, or orange.
  • 1/2 medium Red Onion Swap for green onion if desired.
  • 1 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes Halved.
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro Optional.
  • 1 cup Grilled Chicken Diced or omit for vegetarian.
For the Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Chipotle Ranch Dressing Can use regular ranch.

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • Fine mesh strainer
  • large mixing bowl

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Southwest Pasta Salad
  1. Cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Prepare the other ingredients: rinse black beans and corn, dice bell pepper and red onion, halve tomatoes, chop cilantro, and dice grilled chicken.
  3. In a large bowl, combine cooled rotini, black beans, corn, bell peppers, red onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and grilled chicken.
  4. Gently stir in the chipotle ranch dressing until all ingredients are well-coated.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld.
  6. Serve chilled, tossing to redistribute the dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 12gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 8gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 700IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Notes

This salad can be made ahead for optimal flavor and is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

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