Description
Bright, bold, and packed with Southwest flavor, this Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad is everything you want in a side dish. It’s colorful, creamy, crunchy, and totally satisfying—perfect for summer BBQs, meal prep, or as a fun twist on your classic pasta salad lineup. Whether you’re hunting for easy dinner ideas, healthy sides, or a crowd-pleasing potluck recipe, this one ticks all the boxes. Plus, it’s loaded with protein, fiber, and zesty flavor to keep things light and filling.
Ingredients
8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
0.5 cup red onion, diced
1 avocado, diced
0.25 cup cilantro, chopped
0.5 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
0.25 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
Instructions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt (or sour cream), mayonnaise, lime juice, and taco seasoning.
3. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
5. Fold in diced avocado just before serving.
6. Chill for 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld.
Notes
Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy twist.
Best enjoyed fresh, but you can stir in extra lime juice to refresh leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: cowboy caviar pasta salad, pasta salad, Tex-Mex side dish, summer salad