A simply delicious side dish, Mexican Pasta Salad – with black beans, corn, bell pepper, cilantro, tomatoes, and an avocado dressing.
I have a soft spot in my heart for pasta. Well, carbs in general. Carbs are my weakness. 🙂 More than desserts, even!
My favorite kind of carbs are pasta. I didn’t grow up eating pasta salads. The only exposure I had to them when I was a kid, was at parties or potluck get togethers with friends. When I met my husband, I was fully introduced to the wide world of pasta salads. My husband’s mom is the pasta salad queen.
I remember going to his parents house to eat Sunday dinner and his mom would have a gigantic bowl of pasta salad just waiting for me to dig into. I got her recipe, and ever since then have loved making flavorful pasta salads. Like this Best Ever Pasta Salad and this Roasted Asparagus & Mushroom Pesto Pasta Salad – YUM!
This Mexican Pasta Salad is easy, healthy and delicious. I like to use a healthier pasta and then add in lots of fresh veggies. The dressing is made using avocado, Greek yogurt and a little taco seasoning, with other flavorful ingredients. Blend it all together and then drizzle on the top or toss it all together with the pasta and veggies.
It’s great to bring to a potluck, picnic or just eaten as a side dish with dinner. Your family will love this!
Ingredients
- 1 13.25-oz box penne pasta (I love Dreamfield's Healthy Carb Living Pasta)
- 1 15-oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 11-oz can corn with red & green bell peppers
- 1/2 orange bell pepper chopped
- 1/4 c. cilantro chopped
- 3 green onions sliced
- 5- oz. cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 avocados pitted and halved
- 3 green onions
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 3 Tbsp. fat free plain Greek yogurt
- juice of 1/4 lime
- 3/4 cup fat free milk
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning packet or homemade
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Pour into a large bowl. Add black beans, corn, bell pepper, cilantro, green onions, and cherry tomatoes. Toss.
- In a food processor or blender, combine avocados, green onions, garlic, cumin, Greek yogurt, lime juice, milk and taco seasoning. Pulse until combined and creamy. If too thick, add a little more milk. Taste and add salt and pepper.
- Serve with pasta salad either by drizzling with sauce (as shown) or toss to coat pasta and veggies. Enjoy!
If you liked this recipe, you might like this too:
30+ Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes
This recipe was shared as a contributors post on I Heart Nap Time on June 21, 2014
This looks and sounds fabulous! My husband won’t eat cold noodles, so he won’t be any help eating it. I better wait until we have some people over to make it or I will end up eating the whole thing myself!
Cookies!
Nice twist on pasta salad!
This pasta salad looks amazing!
My favourite thing to cook is either japanese curry or lime chili chicken taco bowls.
My favorite thing to cook is chicken parm
Pasta is my favorite too. I didn’t have it as a kid either and not until I got older, but I love it. Thanks Jenn.
love cooking sweet treats!
I love to cook anything- I used to prefer to make anything sweet, but going to college has made me appreciate having a kitchen available to me to make fresh, plant-based meals (besides desserts) too! 🙂
I’m so not a fan of cooking. I think having to meal plan and cook dinner for 23 years has worn me out :). However, since I have to eat I don’t mind baking cupcakes 😉
Honestly, I like to cook anything that tastes good!
This pasta salad is so pretty Jen! Love it! Pinned!
i love your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and give aways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I follow healthy bloggers such as yourself! There’s nothing more I enjoy than trying the recipes posted by those bloggers 🙂 Thank you for this opportunity Jen 🙂
Baking has to be my favorite. I’m a total sweet tooth! But Mexican is my favorite savory category and I’ve never even thought of a Mexican pasta salad… genius!
Now that asparagus is in season, I am OBSESSED with cooking with asparagus!
I like to make breads/rolls/etc. Always like to try new recipes even though I have ones that are good!
I love to make home made pizza!
I love to cook anything Mexican an this salad looks great.
I love to cook but making Mexican food has to be my favorite
This looks delicious, can’t wait to try it!! Thanks for another terrific recipe.
Can’t wait to make this delicious pasta salad!! I’m like you I LOVE MY PASTA!!
I love to bake almost anything! But my favorite thing about cooking is letting my daughter help out! So fun.
My favorite thing to cook is tostones con guacamole!
Quick and easy one skillet meals.
pretty much any and all kinds of food!! and darn good at it too, lol :D!
I am an obsessed foodie and proud of it!
I love to make it, bake it, cook it and eat it. Including trying out the newest restaurant in town. I collect cookbooks, vintage dishes, kitchen gadgets..and, subscribe to food magazines..I long for a dream kitchen.
I am a FOODIE..hahaha.
You will find my every day, pretty much cooking and baking all types of food.
My favorite day to cook is Sunday..nothing like a good old fashioned Sunday dinner with the family/friends.
I love to experiment and try new foods to create and eat..especially different cultures.
Right now my fave food to make is Thai and Greek.
I am know for my good healthier versions of 100 years plus old heritage Southern Food and my Chinese authentic cooking (due to FIL stink in Viet Nam)
Thanks!
yikes that should read STINT in V.Nam..sorry for the typos..busy cooking and distracted.
Yum this sounds really delicious. I love trying new recipes from blogs. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Simon