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Southwest Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

This flavorful Southwest Pasta Chicken Salad Recipe is a perfect, cool dinner on a busy weeknight or a great make-ahead side dish for your next family cookout.
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Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pasta, Salad, Southwest
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 505kcal

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

  • 1/2 lb. bow tie pasta, cooked according to directions
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 c. cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 3/4 c. frozen fresh corn
  • 1/2 c. sliced green onions
  • 8 oz. cooked chicken, shredded or diced
  • 3/4 c. queso fresco or cotija cheese, crumbled
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • lime wedges for garnish, optional

Dressing Ingredients

  • 6 TBSP. fresh lime juice , about 3 small juicy limes
  • 1/4 c. rice vinegar, or white wine
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 1/2 tsps. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. coriander
  • dash cayenne pepper, optional
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. sugar, add a little more if limes are bitter or sour
  • 3/4 c. canola oil or unrefined coconut oil
  • 1/2 c. cilantro, roughly chopped

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 580mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3309IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 207mg | Iron: 3mg
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