Kitchen Sink Chipotle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Elevate your pasta salad game with this bold and vibrant Kitchen Sink Chipotle Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad! Packed with a medley of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, and sweet bell peppers, along with hearty black beans and corn, this dish is a feast for the eyes and the palate. The smoky richness of mozzarella cheese pairs perfectly with a creamy, spicy chipotle dressing made from scratch, featuring zesty lime juice, honey, and a hint of cumin for a subtle warmth. Quick to whip up in just 35 minutes with simple preparation, this pasta salad is perfect as a chilled side dish or a light, flavorful entree. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or meal-prepping for the week, this recipe is a satisfying, crowd-pleasing option that will have everyone coming back for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Penne pasta
• 6 oz Smoked mozzarella cheese
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup Canned black beans
• 1 cup Frozen corn kernels
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 2 cups Baby spinach leaves
• 1 small Red onion
• 2 whole Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Sour cream
• 2 tbsp Lime juice
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 0.25 cup Fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1.5 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 0.5 tsp Ground cumin

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.

Step 2

Cube the smoked mozzarella into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Step 3

Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion and fresh cilantro. Add these to the mixing bowl along with the baby spinach leaves, black beans (rinsed and drained), and frozen corn (thawed).

Step 4

In a blender or food processor, combine chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, honey, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and ground cumin. Blend until smooth to create the chipotle dressing.

Step 5

Pour the chipotle dressing over the pasta and veggies in the mixing bowl. Toss everything together until well-coated and combined.

Step 6

Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed before serving.

Step 8

Serve cold or at room temperature as a side dish or light entree.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1760.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3608.6

Total Fat 171.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 50.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.7g
Cholesterol 296.6mg	0%
Sodium 6080.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 423.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 45.7g	0%
Total Sugars 55.0g
Protein 112.6g	0%

Vitamin D 36.4IU	0%
Calcium 1298.7mg	0%
Iron 23.1mg	0%
Potassium 3567.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.8%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 46.0%