Mexican Style Pasta Salad

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

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.

Recipe Information

• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 10 min
• Total Time: 25 min
• Servings: 6 servings
• Difficulty: Medium

🥘 Ingredients

15 items

• 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

8 steps

1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water to cool it down, and set aside.

2. 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.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro.

5. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.

6. Gently fold in the diced avocado, ensuring it doesn't get overly mashed.

7. Sprinkle the crumbled queso fresco on top (if using) for an extra touch of creaminess.

8. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

1 serving (287.4g)

Calories		366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat		18.7 g	24%
	Saturated Fat	5.2 g	26%
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		14 mg	5%
Sodium		523 mg	23%
Total Carbohydrate		41.7 g	15%
	Dietary Fiber	8.0 g	29%
	Total Sugars	7.2 g
Protein		11.8 g	24%
Vitamin D		0.0 mcg	0%
Calcium		147 mg	11%
Iron		2.6 mg	14%
Potassium		667 mg	14%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 1014 cal (44.1%%)

Protein: 283 cal (12.3%%)

Carbs: 1002 cal (43.6%%)