Mexican Style Pasta Salad
Brighten up your table with this crowd-pleasing Mexican Style Pasta Salad, a zesty fusion of fresh, vibrant ingredients and bold Southwest flavors. Packed with al dente pasta, sweet corn, protein-rich black beans, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and creamy avocado, this salad is as colorful as it is flavorful. Tossed in a tangy lime-cumin dressing and finished with a sprinkle of queso fresco, it’s a refreshing side dish or light main course perfect for summer potlucks, BBQs, or family dinners. Ready in just 25 minutes and loaded with wholesome ingredients, this easy recipe is a fiesta in every bite—healthy, satisfying, and absolutely irresistible! Keywords: Mexican pasta salad, Southwest pasta salad, avocado salad recipe, summer side dish.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta (rotini or penne)
- 1.5 cups Corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 cup Black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 medium Red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 cup Red onion (finely chopped)
- 0.5 cup Fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 large Avocado (diced)
- 2 whole Lime (juiced)
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp Chili powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 0.5 cup Queso fresco (crumbled, optional)
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water to cool it down, and set aside.
If using frozen corn, cook it briefly in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then drain and cool. If using fresh or canned corn, you can skip this step.
In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Gently fold in the diced avocado, ensuring it doesn't get overly mashed.
Sprinkle the crumbled queso fresco on top (if using) for an extra touch of creaminess.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2193 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 112.7 g | 144% | |
| Saturated Fat | 30.2 g | 151% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 86 mg | 28% | |
| Sodium | 3137 mg | 136% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 250.7 g | 91% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 48.6 g | 174% | |
| Total Sugars | 43.8 g | ||
| Protein | 70.8 g | 142% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 879 mg | 68% | |
| Iron | 16.1 mg | 89% | |
| Potassium | 4000 mg | 85% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
