Try this southwest twist on a pasta salad! Barbecue spiked creamy ranch dressing, black beans, smoky bacon, and more! Tortilla strips add a nice crunch to this creamy salad that you can make in less than 30 minutes!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Great pasta salad made with simple ingredients!
- A creamy pasta salad with kick and a crunch!
- Makes the perfect side dish for summer barbecues!
- Makes a tasty pasta salad the next day too!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chili Lime Tortilla Strips - Trust me, do not skip the chili lime tortilla strips. They are what pushes this pasta salad over the top! If you are not a fan of chili lime tortilla strips or you can't buy them where you live, try the Fritos Honey Barbecue Twists instead!
- Barbecue Sauce - Sweet Baby Ray's brand of bbq sauce tastes best in this recipe, but you can use whatever barbecue you prefer.
- Ranch Dressing - I always use the mix your own with milk Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix instead of the pre-made bottled dressing. Just mix one cup mayonnaise with one cup milk and a packet of ranch seasoning to make that sort of homemade ranch dressing!
- Bacon - You can substitute precooked bacon pieces or real bacon bits.
Couple Things You'll Need
Step by Step Instructions
- Boil the rotini according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk the ranch and barbecue together.
- Crisp and crumble the bacon.
- Slice the green onions.
- Open the cans of corn, black olives and black beans. Drain them all and rinse the black beans well.
- Dump the rotini, crispy bacon, corn, black beans.....
- ....olives and green onions into a large bowl and toss to mix.
- Pour the barbecue ranch over the pasta and other ingredients.
- Mix well, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until serving time.
- Sprinkle the top of the pasta salad with some of the chili lime tortilla strips right before serving. Leave the remaining tortilla strips next to the pasta salad for people to add more to their individual salads.
- Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container.
Recipe FAQS
Yes, check out my Southern BBQ Chicken Salad! If you'd like a spicier version try my recipe for Spicy BBQ Ranch Dressing. You can use it as a dipping sauce as well.
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Barbecue Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- One 16 oz Box Rotini
- 1 lb. Bacon crisped and crumbled
- 6-8 Green Onions thinly sliced
- One 6 oz Can Sliced Black Olives
- 1 Can of Corn Kernals
- 1 Can of pre-seasoned Black Beans drained and rinsed
- 1 Cup Hidden Valley Ranch dressing *see note
- 1 Cup Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce
- Two 4.5 oz bags Chili Lime Flavored Tortilla Strips found them by the croutons
Instructions
- Boil the rotini according to package instructions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
- Crisp and crumble the bacon.
- Slice the green onions.
- Open the cans of corn, olives and black beans. Drain them all and rinse the black beans well.
- Dump the rotini, bacon, corn, olives, black beans and green onions into a mixing bowl and toss to mix.
- In a small bowl, whisk the ranch and barbecue together. Pour it over the pasta and other ingredients.
- Mix well and chill until serving time.
- Sprinkle the top of the pasta salad with some of the chili lime tortilla strips right before serving. Leave the remaining tortilla strips next to the pasta salad for people to add more to their individual salads.
Notes
- I always use the mix your own with milk Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing instead of the pre-made bottled dressing.
- Trust me, do not skip the chili lime tortilla strips. They are what pushes this pasta salad over the top! If you are not a fan of chili lime tortilla strips or you can't buy them where you live, try the Fritos Honey Barbecue Twists instead!
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Kelly | Foodtasia
Mindee, this salad looks fabulous! Can't get enough barbeque ranch - it's so good! Love the crunch the tortilla strips add!
G. T.
Awesome flavors!!!
Julie
This looks delicious! I pinned it so I can make it later!