Jimmy Buffet Salad

 Meat

• • 1 lb ground beef - sausage mix

Produce

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup red onion
• 1 cup romaine lettuce
• 1 yellow onion, small
• 1 cup shredded red cabbage (optional substitute for fresh onions)

• Condiments

  • 1/2 cup dill pickles
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  Pasta & Grains

  • 16 oz rotini pasta

  Baking & Spices

  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic flakes (optional substitute for fresh garlic)
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder (optional substitute for fresh onions)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

  Oils & Vinegars

  • 2 tbsp olive oil

  Dairy
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese

Here's How

• 
  
• Cook the pasta. Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
  
  Sauté the onions and garlic. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
  
  Cook the ground beef. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
  
  Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, and 1/2 tsp salt until smooth.

Combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, ground beef mixture, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pickles, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. Pour the dressing over top and toss until everything is evenly coated.

Serve the salad. Serve the pasta salad immediately while still slightly warm. It can also be chilled and served cold. Garnish with additional shredded cheese and chopped pickles if desired. Enjoy!

Options...

Pick your favorite pasta. Rotini or fusilli pasta works great in this salad as the spirals hold onto the dressing and mix-ins well. You can also use penne, farfalle (bowties), or cavatappi.

Lean and mean. Use lean ground beef (90/10 or leaner) to avoid excess grease. You can also substitute ground turkey seasoned with a little beef bouillon for a lighter option.

Give it a flavor boost. Season the ground beef with additional spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder to turn up the taco-inspired flavors.