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.

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

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)

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 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.

Step 3

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

Step 4

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

Step 5

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

Step 6

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

Step 7

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

Step 8

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

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1911 grams (1911.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2207

Total Fat 107.50g	138%
Saturated Fat 29.40g	147%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.00g
Cholesterol 86mg	28%
Sodium 3355mg	146%
Total Carbohydrate 256.80g	93%
Dietary Fiber 50.90g	182%
Total Sugars 44.00g
Protein 75.10g	150%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 879mg	68%
Iron 15mg	82%
Potassium 3908mg	83%

*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: 42.2%

Protein: 13.1%

Carbs: 44.8%