Description
Enjoy the flavors of Mexico in this delicious Mexican Pasta Salad with a creamy dressing. Packed with veggies, beans, and a zesty dressing, this salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 oz rotini or penne pasta, cooked and cooled
- 1½ cups corn kernels (grilled, canned, or frozen)
- 1½ cups black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ½ cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese
- Optional sliced jalapeños for heat
Creamy Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Creamy Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Assembly: Add pasta, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro to the bowl. Toss well in the dressing. Gently fold in avocado and cheese. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Top with jalapeños or more cheese before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, grill the corn or add green onions or hot sauce.
- This salad is great for potlucks and can be prepared in advance.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
