Spicy Southwest Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad

Ingredients

- 1 pound bacon
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt (for pasta water)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 scallions, chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Cook the Bacon
- Place a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the bacon and cook until crispy, about 8 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Once cooled, crumble the bacon.

2. Cook the Pasta
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil over high heat. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. (Approximately 8-10 minutes).
- Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

3. Prepare the Dressing
- In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, taco seasoning, and hot sauce. Whisk until smooth and evenly blended.

4. Combine Ingredients
- To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked and drained pasta, cherry tomatoes, chopped scallions, black beans, and corn kernels.
- Gently toss until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.

5. Add Bacon and Cheese
- Fold in the crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese. Mix gently to combine.

6. Chill and Serve
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, give the salad a good toss to re-mix ingredients.

Preparation & Cooking Times

Preparation Time:
PT10M
10 minutes

Cooking Time:
PT18M
18 minutes

Total Time

PT58M
58 minutes

Type of Dish

Lunch

Keywords

Southwest pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, bowtie pasta recipe, spicy mayonnaise salad, BBQ pasta dish, summer salad, chilled pasta salad, easy lunch recipe, bacon cheddar salad, Tex-Mex salad

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total: 2,760 calories

#BaconPasta #SouthwestFlavors #SpicySalad #LunchRecipe #PastaLovers