This Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad is a taco-inspired pasta salad that is packed with so much goodness, such as black beans, corn, cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, and protein packed pasta, and lean ground beef. It’s a filling pasta salad that’s packed with 30 grams of protein-perfect for those busy summer days!  A must make for your next potluck or gathering!

Makes 10 servings

We love a good pasta salad for summer lunches! This Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad has the perfect amount of kick to it and makes for a perfect lunch, dinner or as a side dish that everyone will love! This Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad has 30 grams of protein per serving and will keep you full for hours!

What ingredients do I need to make this Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad?

• Lean ground beef or turkey– I like to use 96% lean ground beef. You could sub that out for ground chicken or turkey, if desired.
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Protein small pasta– uncooked. I like to use Brami Fusilli Italian Protein Pasta or Barilla Protein. Feel free to use gluten-free pasta.
• Fresh or frozen sweet corn-thawed 
• Black beans-drained and rinsed
• Cherry or Medley tomatoes-quartered 
• Reduced fat cheddar cheese- shredded 
• Green onion-finely chopped
• Cilantro-finely chopped
• Precooked bacon- cooked and crumbled
• Light mayo- I like to mix light mayo and non fat plain Greek yogurt together to add more protein.
• Non fat plain Greek yogurt or sub for fat free sour cream– even if you’re not a fan of plain Greek yogurt I recommend it for this dressing. The other flavors in the dressing over power the tanginess of the Greek yogurt and you’ll not even know it’s there.
• Sugar free barbecue sauce– I like to use Baby Rays sugar free BBQ sauce
• Worcestershire sauce– for flavor.
• Spicy brown mustard-for flavor.

What pasta do you recommend using for this Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad?

I love to bulk this pasta salad up by using high protein pasta such as Barilla or Brami. The one I like to use for most my pasta salads is the Brami Fusilli which has 21 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber for a 3.5 oz. serving!

You can find it HERE on Amazon:

How do I make this Lightened Up Cowboy Pasta Salad?

In a medium size mixing bowl combine the dressing ingredients and whisk until well combined.

Set aside.

Cooke pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.

It is important to not overcook your pasta – you want it al dente so it still has a little bite otherwise the pasta salad will be soggy.

Cook beef in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides.

Season with garlic powder, cumin, paprika and season with salt and pepper.

Cook the bacon in the microwave for 60 seconds then crumble into small pieces.

In a large bowl combine all the pasta salad ingredients except for bacon and dressing.

Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad.

Gently toss to coat the ingredients with the dressing.

Chill until ready to serve. Add crumbled bacon and dressing when ready to serve.

This pasta salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. 96% lean ground beef or turkey 
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp paprika
• 12 oz.protein small pasta, such as Barilla Protein or Brami Fusilli Italian Protein Pasta, uncooked
• 1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed 
• 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cherry or Medley tomatoes, quartered 
• 1/3 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded 
• ¼ cup green onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 8 slices Hormel precooked bacon, crumbled

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup light mayo
• 1/2 cup non fat plain Greek yogurt or sub for fat free sour cream 
• ¼ cup sugar free barbecue sauce
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp spicy brown mustard

Directions:

1. In a medium size mixing bowl combine the dressing ingredients and whisk until well combined. Set aside.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
3. Cook beef in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides. Season with garlic powder, cumin, paprika and season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook the bacon in the microwave for 60 seconds then crumble into small pieces.
5. In a large bowl combine all the pasta salad ingredients except for bacon and dressing.
6. Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta salad. Gently toss to coat the ingredients with the dressing.
7. Chill until ready to serve. Add crumbled bacon and dressing when ready to serve.
8. This pasta salad can be served chilled or at room temperature. 

Makes 10 ( 3/4 cup) servings 

5 WW Points® per serving

How do I track this recipe in my WW app? 

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Points®

The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder. 

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