Cowboy Pasta Salad is an intriguing blend of sweet and savory with just the right amount of heat. A summer side dish or main dish that’s so good it will have you adding this salad to your weekly menu.

I absolutely LOVE potlucks. There is nothing better than a church potluck, a family reunion, or a neighborhood block party to bring out all the best and tastiest dishes.

I like to sample a smidgen of as many salads and side dishes as I can and then hopefully find the owner/creator of that dish to get the recipe.

This Cowboy Pasta Salad will be “THE” big hit at your next gathering so be prepared to share your secret recipe. 😉

Our Cowboy Pasta Salad offers sweetness from the barbeque sauce yet a pop of heat from the mustard and hot sauce. Leave out the beef or turkey for a light, fresh side dish. Or change up the protein and serve as a quick main dish meal. But whatever you do, don’t take out the bacon. 😆

If you like easy, go-to side dishes, you might like to try my Apple Cranberry Coleslaw, Strawberry Spinach Salad, or Homemade Chunky Applesauce.

Ingredients Needed for Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe

• Bacon – the more bacon the better, right!?!? 😉
• Ground Beef or Turkey – ground or fresh chicken is a great alternative.
• Olive Oil
• Garlic Powder
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Rotini Pasta – or your favorite pasta shape (here’s my favorite Gluten-Free version!)
• Mayo – Everyone has a favorite brand for certain recipes. Mine is Kraft!
• Barbecue Sauce – experiment with flavors to find your favorite BBQ sauce for this salad.
• Worcestershire Sauce – brings a sweet and savory flavor to your dish.
• Spicy Mustard – so many enticing brands and flavors on your store shelf to pick from.
• Hot Sauce – only you can decide how much heat you like and the best flavor for you.
• Whole Corn – drain your canned corn thoroughly before adding it to salad.
• Grape Tomatoes
• Cheddar Cheese – any shredded cheese or crumbled cheese will be fabulous.
• Green Onion
• Salt & Pepper

For the complete recipe, check out the handy printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

How to Make Cowboy Pasta Salad

The process couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to make your new favorite Pasta Salad dish.

Step 1

Cook the pasta and drain. Drizzle with olive oil and set aside.

Step 2

Cook bacon in a large skillet. Chop bacon and set aside. Be sure to drain the bacon grease from the pan before proceeding with next step.

Step 3

Using the same skillet, cook ground meat along with the onion, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper.

Step 4

Stir in mayo, barbeque sauce, worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot sauce and combine.

Step 5

Add corn and tomatoes.

Step 6

Fold the cooked pasta into the mixture.

Step 7

Garnish with cheese and reserved green onion.

Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe Notes and Tips

Once you have taken the bacon out of the pan and chopped it, place the bacon on a plate with a paper towel. The paper towel will absorb the excess grease.

Spaghetti may not be the best choice for this pasta. Macaroni, rotini, farfalle, or fusilli would all be better choices.

Drain the canned corn prior to adding it in the salad. You do not want the extra moisture in the salad once all ingredients are added.

Reserve a small amount of the green onions for the garnish for the top of the salad. The amount you add to the recipe and reserve for garnish is per your taste.

Cowboy Pasta Salad Variations to Try

• Add diced chicken to the salad instead of beef or turkey. Dice the fresh chicken and cook in the same manner as the beef or turkey.
• Change up the barbeque sauce flavor….there are so many different varieties to choose. Sweet barbeque, honey barbeque, sweet and tangy or Kansas City style just to name a few.
• Experiment with different flavors of bacon. Try different kinds until you find the flavors you love most. My suggestions would be maple bacon, apple smoked, turkey bacon or canadian bacon.
• Try different veggie combinations. Add peas or bell peppers. Use sliced tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Add diced red onion or carrots. The possibilities are nearly endless!

FAQs

Here are some common questions I often see readers ask about this recipe.

Does my cowboy pasta salad need to chill before serving?

This salad does not requiring chilling before serving but if you prefer, chill for 30 minutes.

How long will my leftovers keep?

Leftovers??? If you have any of this yummy salad left, just place the leftovers in an airtight container and it will keep for 5 – 7 days in the fridge.

Am I supposed to rinse the pasta after draining?

I would not rinse pasta after draining. The starches that remain on the pasta will help the sauces adhere to the pasta and make it that much more flavorful!

Do I salt my pasta water even though I will be adding salt to the actual recipe?

Yes, definitely! Even if there is salt in the recipe, the pasta may taste a bit underseasoned if you don’t add salt to your pasta water.

More Tasty Recipes To Try

If you love this Cowboy Pasta Salad, you’ll love these other recipes too!

• Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
• The Best Beef Stroganoff
• Favorite Greek Side Dishes
• Healthy Pasta Alternative: Chickpea Pasta
• Poppyseed Pasta Salad

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