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Southwest Pasta Salad

Ultimate Southwest Pasta Salad with Chipotle Ranch Twist

Experience the vibrant flavors of summer with this Southwest Pasta Salad, combining rotini pasta, fresh veggies, and creamy chipotle ranch dressing.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 6 cups
Course: PASTA
Cuisine: Southwestern
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 2 cups Rotini Pasta or substitute with penne or fusilli
For the Salad
  • 1 can Black Beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup Corn canned or fresh
  • 1 cup Bell Pepper any color
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion soaked in water for milder flavor
  • 1 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes halved
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro chopped
  • 1 cup Grilled Chicken diced
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup Chipotle Ranch Dressing or plain ranch

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • mixing bowl
  • Colander

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, usually around 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking, letting it dry completely.
  2. In a separate bowl, drain and rinse the black beans and corn. Dice the bell peppers and red onion, halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the cilantro.
  3. Dice the grilled chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and chicken. Gently stir to evenly distribute all ingredients.
  5. Drizzle the chipotle ranch dressing over the salad and stir until well coated.
  6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 15gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 8gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 3mg

Notes

Optional: Garnish with extra cilantro or a sprinkle of cheese for added flavor.

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