This is a quick and easy salad you can add to your healthy recipes index! This Santa Fe Pasta Salad in particular is so yummy and versatile and has a delicious southwestern flavor dressing.

Table of Contents show

Healthy Recipes: Santa Fe Pasta Salad

This salad is sentimental for me because my mom used to make it all the time before she succumbed to a glioblastoma brain tumor. I like to have some carbs in my salads so I added pasta, but you can totally make this without pasta if you wish! The original recipe I got this from years ago called for romaine lettuce, which is also filling and full of vitamins.

Black Beans are so healthy! There is so much magnesium in black beans and they are very rich in many different nutrients. You can get 30% of your recommended daily intake of magnesium from ONE CUP of black beans!

{ Read more about the Amazing Magnesium Benefits for Women }

Southwestern Santa Fe Pasta Salad

Ingredients

6 oz cooked spiral pasta
1 medium scallion minced
1 can black beans rinsed and drained, or dry beans, soaked and boiled
1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
1 cup baby spinach diced
2 cups sliced grape tomatoes or diced fresh tomato
1 medium sweet red pepper, diced
1 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the pasta as directed.
Prepare the vegetables and beans and add to a large bowl. When pasta has cooled, add to vegetables and beans.
Prepare dressing with the greek yogurt, lime juice, oil and spices. Mix well.
When ready to serve pour dressing over the salad. Enjoy!

Other Bean Recipes

Vegetarian Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

White Bean and Farro Salad

Super Quick and Delicious Vegan Black Bean Salad

Quick Santa Fe Pasta Salad

This Santa Fe Pasta Salad is so yummy and versatile and has a delicious southwestern flavor dressing.

Ingredients

6 oz cooked spiral pasta
1 medium scallion minced
1 can black beans rinsed and drained, or dry beans, soaked and boiled
1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
1 cup baby spinach diced
2 cups sliced grape tomatoes or diced fresh tomato
1 medium sweet red pepper, diced
1 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Cook the pasta as directed.
Prepare the vegetables and beans and add to a large bowl. When pasta has cooled, add to vegetables and beans.
Prepare dressing with the greek yogurt, lime juice, oil and spices. Mix well.
When ready to serve pour dressing over the salad. Enjoy!

Santa Fe Pasta Salad

Ingredients

6 tbsp mayonnaise
3 tbsp cilantro
3 tbsp water
1 medium scallion minced
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 can black beans rinsed and drained, or dry beans, soaked and boiled
1 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
1 cup baby spinach diced
2 cups grape tomatoes but can use diced fresh tomato
1 medium sweet red pepper diced
6 oz spiral pasta

Instructions

To make the dressing, whisk mayonnaise, cilantro, water, scallion, lime juice, sugar and chili powder together in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer to a container and refrigerate until ready to use.
In a large bowl, layer the remaining ingredients in the order listed. Cover and refrigerate.
Recipe Notes
Storing this salad in layers without the dressing keeps it fresh for up to 4 days.
To serve, mix salad in bowl and drizzle dressing on top and shake to mix. Yields 1 1/2 tbsp dressing per 2 cups salad.