Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

This festive Tex-Mex Pasta Salad with homemade Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette is a summer side dish MUST. 

One of my favorite summer side dishes has always been a cold pasta salad. Not so much the mayo-laden ones, but the pasta salads showered in Italian dressing. They feel light on a hot day, despite the abundance of carbs. Easy assembly is also a plus, as is the creative freedom over what ingredients to include. 

I never really tire of the classic Italian versions, but when I want to mix it up, a Mexican-style pasta salad offers a festive alternative. Plus, fresh veggies and a homemade Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette make this a refreshing, healthy salad.  

Jump to:

• What is a cold pasta salad?
• What ingredients are in Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?
• How do you make Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette?
• Bringing the Mexican-style pasta salad together
• What goes with Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?
• Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

What is a cold pasta salad?

A cold pasta salad is a chilled side dish that features pasta as the main ingredient, usually accompanied by various vegetables or pickled items like diced bell peppers, onion, celery, tomatoes, olives, banana peppers, and more. The ingredients in cold pasta salad are brought together with an oil, vinegar, or mayo-based dressing. Combining the ingredients together and then letting rest for at least four hours lets the pasta absorb the flavors of the dressing and results in a flavorful salad.

I’m open-minded when it comes to making pasta salad, but I absolutely insist that there is only one correct pasta to use - tri-colored rotini pasta. If you’re not using tri-colored rotini pasta, are you even living your best summer? It’s festive AF, and I think we all deserve a little festivity on our plates. 

I’m the accompaniment QUEEN. Dinner featuring tacos inevitably turns into a taco bar, featuring goodies like sliced black olives, diced onion, and crumbly cheese. This Mexican-style pasta salad has all of those, plus sweet peppers, jalapenos, and cherry tomatoes.

For the best results, prepare Tex-Mex Pasta Salad a few hours before serving; it gives the pasta time to soak up that delicious homemade jalapeno lime dressing. You can also prep the ingredients and the Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette a day or two in advance if necessary. No need to be trying to furiously chop vegetables and cook pasta when you should be making sure to remember to pack sunscreen before you hit your next picnic. 

What ingredients are in Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?

For this Mexican style pasta salad recipe you will need the following ingredients:

• 1 12-ounce box tri-color rotini pasta
• ½ cup red onion, finely diced
• 6 sweet mini peppers I used 3 red and 3 yellow
• ½ cup black olives, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered I used NatureSweet Glorys
• 1 jalapeno, finely diced
• feta cheese (garnish)

How do you make Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette?

To make a homemade jalapeno lime dressing you will need the following ingredients:

• 10 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 jalapenos, seeded
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Prepare the jalapeno lime dressing by adding all ingredients except the extra virgin olive oil to a blender. Blend for 20 seconds.
2. With the blender still running, drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil. Blend an additional 5-10 seconds once all of the oil has been added.

This fantastic jalapeno lime dressing was adapted from the one used in Quinoa, Black Bean, and Mango Salad from the cookbook The Best Mexican Recipes: Kitchen-Tested Recipes Put the Real Flavors of Mexico Within Reach (which is a fantastic cookbook! This is an affiliate link and I may earn a commission if you purchase said fantastic cookbook).

Bringing the Mexican-style pasta salad together

You've got the ingredients prepped and ready to go and the Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette ready to go. Here's how you complete this festive pasta salad:

Prepare the pasta according to package directions. I like to cook my pasta to slightly al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Don't forget to salt the water!

Rinse pasta under cold running water when it's finished cooking. Let drain.

Add the pasta, red onion, sweet peppers, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeno to a large bowl.

Pour 80% of the Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette over the pasta. Fold gently until well combined. Reserve the other 20% of the vinaigrette.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to let the flavors meld.

Before serving, add the remaining vinaigrette and stir. Serve topped with feta cheese (optional).

What goes with Tex-Mex Pasta Salad?

Cold pasta salad is often served as a side dish, often during the summer months. It is the perfect side for a picnic or to accompany a grilled meal. Plus the tri-color rotini makes this one festive pasta salad.

Try pairing with grilled chicken, hamburgers, brats, pork chops, and more! Would also be great alongside vegetarian or vegan alternatives like plant-based burgers and brats and portobello mushrooms.

Here’s how you make Tex-Mex Pasta Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette, in all of it’s festive, tri-colored glory. 

If you like this festive pasta salad, you might also like:

• Taco Cucumber Bites
• Citrus Jalapeno Salsa
• Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad
• Corny Quinoa Salad

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