Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad

A large bowl with southwest chicken pasta salad.

Southwestern chicken pasta salad is a quick and easy dinner or satisfying side dish. Loaded with chicken, and veggies and smothered in a delicious ranch dressing.

Course Sides

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken salad, pasta salad, southwest salad

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Servings

Calories 487kcal

Author Wendie

Ingredients

For The Dressing

1 3/4 cups prepared ranch dressing
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For The Salad

12 ounces rotini pasta
2 cup diced cooked chicken
1 14.5 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
1 cup diced cheddar cheese*
1 cup green bell pepper diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1 cup fresh or canned corn
¼ cup sliced green onions

Instructions

For the dressing

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until well combined.

For the salad

2. Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Rinse pasta under cool water.
3. Add the cooked pasta and chicken and the veggies to a large salad bowl. Pour the dressing on top and toss until coated.
4. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Toss in some leftover taco meat for a delicious twist!

Any short pasta will work.

leftover chicken works great or grab a rotisserie.

Canned, frozen or fresh corn can be used.

Shredded cheese can be used instead of diced.

If you hate cilantro use fresh chopped parsley.

If the sauce has soaked into the leftover pasta salad to much the next day, mix in a couple of tablespoons of ranch dressing or sour cream to freshen it up a bit.

Nutrition