Southwest Macaroni Salad

Brighten up your table with this vibrant and zesty Southwest Macaroni Salad, a delicious fusion of creamy pasta, fresh vegetables, and bold Tex-Mex flavors. Tender elbow macaroni is tossed with black beans, sweet corn, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and a generous sprinkle of cilantro, all coated in a luscious dressing of mayonnaise, sour cream, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Spices like chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder add the perfect southwest flair, making this dish a showstopper at picnics, potlucks, or casual weeknight dinners. Ready in just 25 minutes, this chilled salad is ideal for meal prepping, as it tastes even better after the flavors meld in the fridge. Serve as a flavorful side dish or a satisfying vegetarian main — either way, its creamy, tangy goodness is sure to impress!

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
• 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
• 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
• 3 stalks green onions (thinly sliced)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 0.25 cup cilantro (chopped)
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to cool it and stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the black beans, corn, diced red bell pepper, sliced green onions, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped cilantro. Mix well.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 4

Add the cooled macaroni to the vegetable mixture in the large mixing bowl. Toss gently to combine.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the macaroni and vegetable mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 6

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. You can add more lime juice or spices to suit your preferences.

Step 7

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Serve chilled. This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1308.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2341.0

Total Fat 106.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 16.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 146.4mg	0%
Sodium 1622.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 302.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 37.2g	0%
Total Sugars 35.4g
Protein 60.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 328.9mg	0%
Iron 13.3mg	0%
Potassium 2430.9mg	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: 39.8%

Protein: 10.0%

Carbs: 50.2%