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Large bowl of southwest pasta salad with rotini, grilled chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro coated in chipotle ranch dressing

Southwest Pasta Salad

A bold and satisfying cold pasta salad loaded with grilled chicken, black beans, corn, fresh vegetables, and cilantro, all tossed in a creamy chipotle ranch dressing. Perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, BBQs, and meal prep.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 12 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southwest
Calories: 340

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz rotini pasta or penne, farfalle, or shells
  • 2 cups grilled chicken chopped, rotisserie chicken works great
  • 15 oz black beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz corn 1 can, drained
  • 1 cup bell pepper diced
  • 1 cup red onion diced
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved
  • 0.5 cup fresh cilantro chopped
  • 1 cup chipotle ranch dressing store-bought or homemade

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain through a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water until the pasta feels cool to the touch.
  2. Spread the rinsed pasta in the colander and let it drip dry for 5 to 10 minutes. Do not rush this step — wet pasta will water down the dressing.
  3. While the pasta drains, drain and rinse the black beans and corn. Dice the bell pepper and red onion. Halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the cilantro, and dice the grilled chicken into bite-sized chunks.
  4. Add the dried pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and chicken. Toss gently until evenly combined.
  5. Pour the chipotle ranch dressing over the salad and stir until every ingredient is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add 2 to 3 extra tablespoons of dressing if the salad looks dry.
  6. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Notes

For best results, make sure pasta is fully dry before adding dressing. Rotisserie chicken saves time on busy nights. Hold back a splash of extra dressing to stir in before serving leftovers. Add diced avocado, jalapeno, cotija cheese, or black olives for extra toppings. Vegetarian version: skip the chicken and add extra beans or avocado.