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Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad

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Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Apr 23, 2019
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The popular, Texas-inspired cowboy caviar can take the form of dip, garnish, side dish and more, but in this recipe, it becomes a complete meal, and one that’s much better than anything you’d find in the grocer’s deli case. Packed with vegetables, beans and pasta, and dressed in a light and tangy dressing, it's flavorful, fresh and hearty enough to feed the whole family. And it comes in at a great price, since it can be made with leftover rotisserie chicken and seasonal vegetables—although frozen and canned work well, too! In the summertime, this cold salad is perfect dinner on a sticky night and a guaranteed potluck hit. Even better, it’s easily made ahead. So next time you’re in the kitchen, why not put on a pot of water to boil. With a few minutes of chopping, you can rustle up tonight’s—or tomorrow’s—dinner!

Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad

  • Prep Time 25 min
  • Total 25 min
  • Servings 6
  • Ingredients 16
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Ingredients

  • 1 box Betty Crocker™ Suddenly Salad™ classic pasta salad mix
  • 3 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chopped cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon (5 slices)
  • 1/2 cup Progresso™ canned black beans or black-eyed peas, drained, rinsed
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn, cooked as directed on bag, cooled
  • 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped red onion

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Pour pasta (from Suddenly Salad box) into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta. Rinse with cold water; drain well.
  • Step 
    2
    In large bowl, stir together seasoning (from Suddenly Salad box), cold water, oil, lime juice, honey, cumin, pepper flakes and salt to make dressing.
  • Step 
    3
    Add pasta, chicken, bacon, beans, corn, bell pepper, tomato, cilantro and red onion to dressing mixture in bowl; toss to gently coat. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition

290 Calories
10g Total Fat
14g Protein
38g Total Carbohydrate
7g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cup
Calories
290
Calories from Fat
90
Total Fat
10g
15%
Saturated Fat
2g
10%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
25mg
9%
Sodium
580mg
24%
Potassium
500mg
14%
Total Carbohydrate
38g
13%
Dietary Fiber
3g
15%
Sugars
7g
Protein
14g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
15%
15%
Calcium
2%
2%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 1 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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