Description
This Black Bean & Corn Pasta Salad is a fresh, creamy, and protein-packed side dish made with rotini pasta, black beans, sweet corn, spinach, and a tangy Greek yogurt lime dressing. Perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, meal prep, or an easy family dinner, this healthy pasta salad comes together in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Salad
- 16 oz rotini pasta (or any short pasta)
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (11 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
For the Dressing
- 1 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- Juice of 2 fresh limes
Optional
- ½ cup mayonnaise (for an extra creamy dressing)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and let it cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, sugar, salt, and fresh lime juice until smooth.
- Add the cooled pasta, black beans, corn, chopped spinach, and cilantro to the bowl.
- Toss until everything is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Taste and adjust with extra salt, pepper, or lime juice if needed.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving for even better flavor.
Notes
- Rotini, fusilli, penne, or bow tie pasta all work well.
- For a richer dressing, stir in the optional mayonnaise.
- Add diced avocado or cherry tomatoes just before serving.
- This salad tastes even better after chilling for a few hours.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Not recommended for freezing, as the yogurt dressing may separate.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 305 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg