Description
Cowboy Pasta Salad is a colorful and nourishing dish that combines fresh vegetables, protein-packed black beans, and tender orzo pasta. Perfect for any occasion—be it a picnic, potluck, or light lunch—this salad is a crowd-pleaser thanks to its delightful mix of flavors and textures. Whip it up in just 25 minutes and enjoy its zesty dressing featuring lime juice and chipotle powder. Not only is this salad healthy with its fiber-rich veggies and protein, but it’s also incredibly versatile; serve it as a main course or as an accompaniment to grilled meats. Customize it to your taste with your favorite ingredients for a truly personalized dish!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 large tomato, diced
- 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 medium red onion, diced
- 1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. lime juice
- 1 tbsp. honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. chipotle powder
- 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
- 1 tsp. sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the orzo according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a small jar, combine olive oil, lime juice, honey or maple syrup, chipotle powder, cumin powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Shake well to mix.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked orzo with black beans, corn kernels, bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
- Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 0mg