Pioneer Woman Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe

This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe is a hearty and flavorful recipe, which is made with smoked sausage and a chipotle chili powder dressing. It’s the perfect side dish for a potluck or BBQ, ready in about 30 minutes.

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients

For the Dressing:

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• Zest and juice of 2 limes
• 2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
• 2/3 cup olive oil

For the Pasta Salad:

• 14 oz. kielbasa or smoked sausage, cubed
• 1 (16-ounce) box bow tie (farfalle) pasta
• 1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 pt. cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
• 7 oz. smoked cheddar, diced

How To Make Pioneer Woman Cowboy Pasta Salad Recipe

1. Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, black pepper, garlic, lime zest and juice, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. While whisking vigorously, slowly stream in the olive oil and mix until well combined.
2. Cook the sausage and pasta: In a medium skillet, cook the cubed sausage over medium heat until browned and lightly crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. At the same time, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted, boiling water for 1 minute longer than the package directs. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let it cool.
3. Combine and serve: To the bowl with the dressing, add the black-eyed peas, tomatoes, cilantro, corn, bell pepper, jalapeño, red onion, cheese, cooled pasta, cooked sausage, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Fold everything together gently to combine.

Recipe Tips

• How to get the most flavor from the sausage? Taking a few minutes to brown the sausage in a skillet before adding it to the salad is a key step. It renders some of the fat and creates a delicious, crispy texture that adds a ton of flavor.
• Why overcook the pasta slightly? Pasta tends to firm up as it cools and absorbs a cold dressing. Cooking it for an extra minute ensures that it will have the perfect tender, chewy texture in the final salad.
• Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, this salad is great for making ahead. For the best results, you can store the dressing and the chopped salad ingredients separately and toss them together just before serving. However, this salad also holds up well when dressed for several hours.
• How can I adjust the spice level? The heat in this salad comes from the chipotle chili powder and the fresh jalapeño. For a milder salad, use less chili powder and make sure to thoroughly remove all seeds and membranes from the jalapeño.

What To Serve With Cowboy Pasta Salad

This is a very hearty salad that can easily be a main course, but it’s also a fantastic side for a cookout.

• Grilled chicken or steak
• Hamburgers or hot dogs
• A simple green salad
• Cornbread or biscuits

How To Store Cowboy Pasta Salad

• Refrigerate: Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to meld, and it’s often even better the next day.

Cowboy Pasta Salad Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 520 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 18g
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Sodium: 1100mg
• Fiber: 6g
• Sugar: 8g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Bologna Salad Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Salad Tacos Recipe