Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad is a delicious main course or side dish! Filled with everything you love about a cheeseburger: burger, pickles, cheese, onions and more! Whether you’re wanting a fun dinner or a perfect potluck dish – this is it!
What You Will ❤️ About Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad
- Cheeseburger in Paradise – in memory of Jimmy – this pasta salad has the same taste as your favorite cheeseburger in every bite!
- Hot or Cold – I like that you can serve up this pasta salad either hot or cold!
- Easy – pasta salad is always so easy to throw together – once you cook the pasta it’s just throw together in a big bowl and stir!
Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad Ingredients
This is the perfect side dish for any potluck – or it works for dinner too! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Rotini Pasta – use what you have – regular or whole wheat pasta, bowtie or macaroni!
- Olive Oil
- Sweet Yellow Onion – we’re doubling onions here but the sweet onion is getting sauteed
- Garlic – I use “jarlic” most of the time…
- Salt & Pepper
- Ground Beef or Ground Pork – obviously cheeseburgers are mainly made with ground beef, but ground pork is so affordable right now!!! It has just as much flavor if not more – than ground beef!
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Red Onion – dice these up and they add crunch!
- Pickles – you could also sub diced cucumber but I like using zesty dill pickles – or even relish
- Lettuce – if you know you’re going to have leftovers – you might leave out the lettuce and just top it when you serve – or swap with spinach!
- Cheddar Cheese – use whatever cheese you like – even cubed cheese would be good
- Ketchup – the dressing mixes ketchup & mayo – but you could also use Honey Mustard or Ranch dressing!
- Mayonnaise – always Duke’s Mayo!
- OPTIONAL: Bacon! Diced bacon would be a great addition to your cheeseburger pasta salad as well!
Cheeseburger Pasta Salad Variations
Take all your favorite dishes and make them into a pasta salad. Here are some ideas:
- Fajita Pasta Salad – grill up shrimp, onion and green & red bell pepper and mix with pasta, salsa & sour cream
- Vegetarian – instead of ground beef or pork, heat up veggie burgers and chop them up and toss into pasta salad with your favorite vegetables like broccoli
- Taco Pasta Salad – add in black beans, corn, peppers & black olives – toss with taco seasoning, olive oil, lime juice and fresh cilantro
- Italian Hoagie – use Italian dressing, artichoke hearts, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella & Parmesan cheese, black olives, fresh basil with bowtie pasta
How to make Cheeseburger in Paradise Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the water from the pasta and place the pasta in a large bowl. Set aside to cool.
- While the pasta is cooking, in a pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté the veggie mixture until soft and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the ground pork to the veggie mixture and brown until no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes.
- Drain the excess grease from the pork and let cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, cooked ground pork & onions, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Pour the salad dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Plate and serve with bbq chips. It’s fine to serve if it’s still a little warm. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley.
This post contains affiliate links which I make a little money on purchases. Thanks in advance! I am an Amazon associate as well as a member of other affiliate programs.
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
How do you store leftover pasta salad?
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. Pasta salad can dry out because it soaks up the dressing, refresh by adding more mayo & ketchup – or even have fun and use ranch or honey mustard – before serving.
Should Jimmy Buffett pasta salad be served hot or cold?
When fresh – it can be served warm. If you want to reheat it – just reheat lightly to re-warm or let it set out for 15-20 minutes or so to get to room temperature. The lettuce is the only thing that won’t “reheat” well.
Get Heather’s NEW cookbook – Air Fryer Cooking for One today!
More Pasta Salad Recipes
More Cheeseburger-Style Recipes
Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad
Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad is a delicious main course or side dish! Filled with everything you love about a cheeseburger: burger, pickles, cheese, onions and more! Whether you're wanting a fun dinner or a perfect potluck dish – this is it!
Equipment
- Hex-Clad 12" skillet
Ingredients
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 lb ground pork or ground beef
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
- 1 cup pickles chopped
- 1 cup lettuce shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese grated or small cubes
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup ketchup
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the water from the pasta and place the pasta in a large bowl. Set aside to cool.16 oz rotini pasta
- While the pasta is cooking, in a pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté the veggie mixture until soft and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.2 tbsp olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper
- Add the ground pork to the veggie mixture and brown until no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes.1 lb ground pork
- Drain the excess grease from the pork and let cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, cooked ground pork & onions, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup red onion, 1 cup pickles, 1 cup lettuce, 2 cups cheddar cheese
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup and mayonnaise until smooth.1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup ketchup
- Pour the salad dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
- Plate and serve with bbq chips. It's fine to serve if it's still a little warm. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley.
Notes
**We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Serving: 1cupCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 16gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 589mgPotassium: 304mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 363IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 161mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
4 Comments