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Home » Blog » Salad Recipes » Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Cathy Roma Published: Aug 11, 2020

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This zesty Tex-Mex pasta salad is teeming with tons of flavorful ingredients and tossed in a creamy salsa dressing.
This zesty Tex-Mex pasta salad is teeming with tons of flavorful ingredients and tossed in a creamy salsa dressing.
Tex-Mex Pasta Salad in a wood bowl with serving utensils, tomatoes, and herbs on the table.

If you’re always on the search for easy, tasty summer sides, you’ll want to add this Tex-Mex pasta salad to the roster. Loaded with veggies, beans and corn, it’s got all your favorite tex-mex flavors mixed in with cork screw pasta and a creamy, zingy dressing.

This pasta salad is the perfect accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish or steak. If you’re entertaining, it can be made a few hours in advance and held in the refrigerator.

A bowl of Tex-Mex Pasta Salad ready for serving.

I think the flavor is best when it’s served at room temperature, so I toss it as near to serving as possible or let it come to room temperature on the counter if it’s been refrigerated.

What makes this Tex-Mex pasta salad really pop is the creamy salsa dressing. Unlike a lot of macaroni salads, there’s no mayo or sour cream in the recipe. Instead I use Greek yogurt mixed with salsa, cilantro, and lime resulting in a super flavorful, tangy dressing that tastes rich but is definitely healthier.

Close up shot of a bowl of Tex-Mex Pasta Salad garnished with cilantro and baby tomatoes.

I use a traditional mild or medium salsa that’s a little chunky, but really any salsa will work here. Salsa verde would be a tasty alternative or a chipotle salsa would add a little spicy smokiness.

You can definitely play around with this recipe and make it your own. Swap pinto beans for black beans or how about some chiles or pickled jalapeños for my heat loving friends?

Let’s make Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

Step by step photos showing how to make Tex-Mex Pasta Salad. Whip up the creamy dressing (1), combine the salad ingredients (2), toss together (3).
  1. Combine all of the ingredients for the creamy salsa dressing in a bowl and whisk together until combined.
  2. Combine all the ingredients for the pasta salad in a large bowl.
  3. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.

Tips for success

  • The salad can be made 2-3 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • The pasta salad can be served at room temperature (my recommendation) or chilled.
  • Don’t skip tossing the diced avocado with a squeeze of lime juice to prevent oxidation. 
  • Use your favorite salsa in the dressing.  I used a medium, slightly chunky salsa, but salsa verde or chipotle would be a delicious substitution. 
  • Reserve a sprinkle of cheese and cilantro for garnishing.
Overhead shot of Tex-Mex Pasta Salad on a checkered linen with tomatoes and herbs scattered around.

More summer sides

  • Classic Macaroni Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Peach and Burrata Salad
  • Italian Potato Salad
0 from 0 votes
A bowl of Tex-Mex Pasta Salad ready for serving.
Print
Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

This zesty Tex-Mex pasta salad is teeming with tons of flavorful ingredients and tossed in a creamy salsa dressing.

Course: Salad, Side
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: pasta salad, tex-mex pasta salad
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 440 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For…
Ingredients
  • 1 lb rotini pasta, cooked according to pkg directions and cooled slightly
  • 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
  • 15 oz black beans, drained (1 can)
  • 2 cups corn kernels, fresh (canned and drained or frozen corn can be substituted)
  • 3 scallions, sliced on the bias
  • 1 avocado, diced + squeeze of lime juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
  • 6 oz shredded cheese (Mexican blend or cheddar)
  • kosher salt and pepper
Creamy Salsa Dressing
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt, plain
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 tsp lime zest, grated
  • 1 Tbsp cilantro, minced
  • 1 Tbsp lime juice
  • kosher salt and pepper
Instructions
Creamy Salsa Dressing
  1. Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl and season to taste with kosher salt and pepper. Set aside.

    The ingredients for the creamy salsa dressing for Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
Pasta Salad
  1. Toss the diced avocado witha squueze of lime juice and combine the cooked rotini pasta (still a bit warm) with the remaining ingredients.

    The ingredients for Tex-Mex Pasta Salad ready for tossing.
  2. Add the dressing to the pasta salad and toss well. Season with to taste with kosher salt and pepper and serve.

    Tex-Mex Pasta Salad tossed together and ready for serving.
Recipe Notes
  • The salad can be made 2-3 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  • The pasta salad can be served at room temperature (my recommendation) or chilled.
  • Don’t skip tossing the diced avocado with a squeeze of lime juice to prevent oxidation. 
  • Use your favorite salsa in the dressing.  I used a medium, slightly chunky salsa, but salsa verde or chipotle would be a delicious substitution. 
  • Reserve a sprinkle of cheese and cilantro for garnishing.
Nutrition Facts
Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 440 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 605mg26%
Potassium 736mg21%
Carbohydrates 66g22%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 21g42%
Vitamin A 622IU12%
Vitamin C 15mg18%
Calcium 217mg22%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
7

Recipe, Salad Recipes, Side Dish Recipes salsa dressing, salsa, summer, macaroni salad, pasta salad, tex-mex, Mexican salad, summer side, tex-mex pasta salad, rotini, Mexican

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

Learn More about Cathy

Subscribe now to receive my exclusive guide of How to Stock a Pantry delivered straight to your inbox!

Join the What Should I Make For... Community to learn what to cook to when to achieve a happier, more balanced life.

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