In partnership withBush's® Baked Beans

Bush’s Baked Beans Summer Pasta Salad

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
At The Kitchn, I develop all of your favorite recipes and help you discover your most beloved grocery finds. I have more than 17 years of recipe development experience, including time spent in cookbook test kitchens and on Alton Brown’s culinary team. My two kids have lots of opinions on dinner.
published Jun 14, 2024
summer
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Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food: Brett Regot; Props: Margaret Ward

The secret to the best big-batch pasta salad of the summer is Bush's Baked Beans.

Serves12 to 14

Makes14 cups

Prep12 minutes

Cook7 minutes to 9 minutes

Jump to Recipe
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Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food: Brett Regot; Props: Margaret Ward

Some dishes are a must-have in the summer. Two that top the list are baked beans and pasta salad. Here, Bush’s Baked Beans are added to mini farfalle (bowtie) pasta, crunchy cucumber, fresh tomatoes, and sweet summer corn, using the sweet and smoky sauce of the baked beans to dress the salad. It’s a marriage of two classic cook-out dishes that will have everyone in the crowd asking for more.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Bush’s Baked Beans are the star of this summery pasta salad, where they are tossed with miniature bowtie pasta, fresh summer vegetables, and a sweet and tangy dressing made from the baked bean sauce.
  • This pasta salad skips the mayo, and you won’t miss it. The dressing is made from fresh lemon juice added to the baked bean sauce, giving it a sweet, savory, and smoky flavor.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food: Brett Regot; Props: Margaret Ward

Key Ingredients in Bush’s Baked Beans Summer Pasta Salad

  • Bush’s Baked Beans: Tender baked beans slow-cooked in a savory sauce do double duty in this pasta salad. The beans add a creamy element to every bite, while the sweet and smoky sauce, made with its signature spices, is the foundation for the pasta salad’s dressing. 
  • Mini Farfalle Pasta: Bowtie pasta is a classic choice for pasta salad. Miniature farfalle pasta is best for this recipe because it’s easier to get a bit of everything in a single bite.
  • Summer Vegetables: Include a variety of colorful seasonal vegetables, such as ripe cherry tomatoes, sweet summer corn, and crunchy English cucumbers.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon juice, from about three medium lemons, adds brightness to the pasta salad dressing.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food: Brett Regot; Props: Margaret Ward

A Crowd-Pleasing, Bean-Forward Pasta Salad

Every forkful of this pasta salad has a bite of baked beans, al dente pasta, and fresh summer vegetables, providing the perfect balance of flavor and texture. The rich simmer sauce from a can of Bush’s Baked Beans acts as the perfect shortcut to a tangy, smoky pasta salad dressing that everyone will love.

Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food: Brett Regot; Props: Margaret Ward

How to Make Bush’s Baked Beans Summer Pasta Salad

  1. Cook the pasta. Cook dried mini farfalle pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Then drain over the frozen corn, if using, to help it thaw quickly. Rinse in cold water to cool before adding to the other ingredients.
  2. Make the dressing. Combine freshly squeezed lemon juice, a can of Bush’s Baked Beans, Dijon mustard, diced red onion, kosher salt, and black pepper. 
  3. Prep the vegetables. Halve grape or cherry tomatoes, dice a cucumber, and mince fresh parsley leaves. Cut corn kernels off of the cobs if using fresh corn.
  4. Toss to combine. Add the vegetables to the bowl of baked beans and toss until combined.

Bush's Baked Beans Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

The secret to the best big-batch pasta salad of the summer is Bush's Baked Beans.

Prep time 12 minutes

Cook time 7 minutes to 9 minutes

Makes 14 cups

Serves 12 to 14

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 3

    medium lemons

  • 1

    medium red onion

  • 1 (28-ounce) can

    Bush's Baked Beans

  • 2 teaspoons

    Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons

    kosher salt, plus more for pasta water

  • 8 ounces

    dried mini farfalle pasta

  • 1 pint

    cherry or grape tomatoes (about 2 cups)

  • 1

    medium English cucumber

  • 2 cups

    fresh or frozen corn kernels (from about 2 ears if fresh)

  • 1/3 cup

    fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

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  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, juice 3 medium lemons until you have 2/3 cup. Dice 1 medium red onion (about 1 1/2 cups). Place the lemon juice, onion, 1 (28-ounce) can Bush's Baked Beans, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Stir to combine.

  2. Add 8 ounces dried mini farfalle pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until just tender, 7 to 9 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the following, adding each to the baked bean mixture as it is completed: Halve 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (or quarter if large, about 2 cups). Dice 1 medium English cucumber (about 3 cups). If using fresh corn, remove the husks and cut the kernels from the cob from 2 ears. (If using frozen corn, place 2 cups in a colander.) Coarsely chop 1/3 cup fresh parsley leaves.

  3. When the pasta is ready, drain (over the frozen corn) in the colander and rinse with cold water to cool. Drain well. Add the pasta (and corn) to the baked bean mixture. Gently toss until combined. Taste and season with more kosher salt and black pepper as needed.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The salad can be made up to a few hours ahead and refrigerated.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.