Description
Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad is a vibrant and hearty dish combining al dente pasta with a colorful mix of black beans, black-eyed peas, corn, fresh vegetables, and creamy avocados. Tossed in a zesty olive oil and lime dressing with a hint of chili and cumin, this salad is perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or a refreshing side dish any time of the year.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Bacon
- 16 oz box of pasta (bowties, shells, rotini or noodle of your choice)
- 1/2 pound of bacon (cooked and crumbled)
Beans and Vegetables
- 15 ounce can black beans (drained)
- 15 ounce can black-eyed peas (drained)
- 11 ounce can of white corn (drained)
- 1 small red onion (diced)
- 2 bell peppers (any color, diced)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (quartered)
- 1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)
- 3 avocados (peeled and chopped)
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place bacon strips on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes or until crispy. Once cooked, cool the bacon and crumble it, then set aside.
- Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, drained black beans, black-eyed peas, white corn, diced bell peppers, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, and chopped cilantro. Mix gently to combine.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white vinegar, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and fresh lime juice until well combined.
- Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss to evenly coat all ingredients. Add the chopped avocados last, just before serving, to keep them fresh and vibrant.
- Serve or chill: Serve the Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad immediately or refrigerate it for a chilled version. The salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Notes
- For best avocado freshness, add them right before serving to prevent browning.
- Choose your favorite pasta shape to customize the texture and look of the salad.
- Crumbling the bacon yourself gives a better flavor than pre-packaged bacon bits.
- This salad makes a great make-ahead dish but avoid adding avocado until serving.
- You can substitute white vinegar with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for a different flavor profile.
- Adjust chili powder and cumin to suit your preferred spice level.
