Southwest Pasta Salad
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy
This Southwest Pasta Salad is a twist on the classic. Wagon wheel pasta tossed with corn, beans, roasted red peppers, and creamy ranch dressing creates a flavor combination you and your guests will love. This Southwest Pasta Salad recipe is a delicious side dish for any get-together.
Southwest Pasta Salad:
Summer is the season of pasta salad, which is why I whipped up another fun pasta salad recipe to share with you today! You’re going to love this Southwest Pasta Salad.
As much as I enjoy classic pasta salad (You can find my go-to recipe here.), you know I also like to put my spin on it. To me, it’s always exciting to serve something a bit different at a party, picnic, or barbecue. I’ve noticed it’s the unexpected that gets conversations going among guests, including requests for the recipe.
This Southwest Pasta Salad recipe likewise reminded me of how wonderfully designed wagon wheel (a.k.a. rotelle) pasta is. The little openings in the pasta have a way of holding onto lots of that delicious dressing and even some beans and corn.
Ingredients for Southwest Pasta Salad:
In addition to the wagon wheel pasta, you might be wondering what else goes into this pasta salad recipe that makes it so delicious. Here’s a full list of ingredients:
- wagon wheel (rotelle) pasta
- fire-roasted corn
- roasted red peppers
- black-eyed pease
- pinto beans
- black beans
- jalapeños
- Monterey Jack cheese
- homemade ranch-style dressing
It’s perfect! Almost too perfect, I’m still trying to drop a few pounds before summer, and this pasta salad didn’t help. (Totally worth it though!)
How do you make Southwest Pasta Salad?
It’s simple!
- Prepare the ingredients and toss them into a bowl.
- Mix up the homemade ranch dressing.
- Add the dressing to the pasta mixture.
- Then mix it all together!
Voila! Your pasta salad is ready! I’m really loving this combination of ingredients, not only do they taste delicious when combined, but they also make for a really colorful and beautiful looking pasta salad.
I like to let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour, however, you can serve it right away. At first, it may seem like a lot of dressing, but I recommend using all of it. The pasta will soak it up.
No matter when or where you serve it, this salad is a winner!
This Southwest Pasta Salad is a twist on the classic. Wagon wheel pasta tossed with corn, beans, roasted red peppers, and creamy ranch dressing creates a flavor combination you and your guests will love.
Want more pasta salad recipes? Try these:
- Classic Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Ramen Noodle Pasta Salad
- California Cobb Pasta Salad
- Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad
Southwest Pasta Salad Recipe:
Southwest Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound wagon wheel rotelle pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 cup frozen fire-roasted corn thawed
- 1 cup chopped roasted red peppers
- 2/3 cup canned black-eyed peas rinsed
- 2/3 cup canned pinto beans rinsed
- 2/3 cup canned black beans rinsed
- 2 jalapeños thinly sliced
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese cut into small cubes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dressing:
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 1/2 cup milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, corn, red peppers, beans, jalapeños, and cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, dry ranch dressing, and milk.
- Pour the dressing on the pasta salad mixture. Toss gently to evenly combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
Video
Nutrition
Does this have chopped onion in it? It looks like it does in the picture, but I dont see it in the ingredients list.Just wondering? Thanks for the great recipe!
Yum! This dish looks mouthwatering and even at this time of the night, it’s making me want some. You nailed this, and I will be making this Wednesday
This sounds delicious, Michael. I’m trying this. I love black beans and a few jalepenos, so it’s right up my alley. Thanks for sharing.
I love black-eyed peas so intend to make this soon. Thanks for sharing!
So delicious! Couldn’t find wagon wheel pasta, so used tri color rotini… we love spicy, so we use Fiesta ranch mix instead of original. So good! Our new favorite go-to salad!
Grocery store was out if the pin-wheels so I used bow-tie pasta.Still came out great!
Next time I’ll use fresh jalapenos instead of pickled,which was all I had.
Made the full recipe which I ended up eating by myself.Seems no-one in my family cares for pasta salads (their loss)
Thanks for this great recipe!
Can you make it the night before ?
Yep!
xo Michael
Where do I find the roasted red peppers for the southwest pasta salad?
At the grocery store near the olives and pickles.
xo Michael
Made this on Memorial Day for a gathering and it was delicious! I did sub pepperoncini for the jalapenos because I didn’t have any, but kept everything else the same. Keep the great recipes coming.
Made this recipe for two picnics this weekend and it was a big hit!
love the “wheels” here, pasta and jalapeno, beans too, great dish, thank you
Oh my! Another delicious pasta salad! So much for low carb diet! 😉 I can’t wsit to try! Your Really Good Macaroni Salad has been the star of graduation parties, Fourth of July family picnics, Easter, etc. My family loves it! Thank you for sharing!