Shrimp Fajita Pasta Salad

Bowtie pasta, pan seared shrimp, and colorful bell peppers are the star of this flavor packed recipe! This fresh and filling Shrimp Fajita Pasta Salad comes together in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect recipe for any occasion. You can make this vegetarian or gluten free too!

In this pasta salad twist, pan seared shrimp, seasoned with Southwest seasoning, provide the fajita meat. Fresh cooked bowtie pasta gets tossed with pan cooked bell peppers, corn, and purple onion. This whole Fajita Pasta Salad is then tossed in a refreshing dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar. 

We love an easy and delicious pasta recipes, if you want some more ideas for easy pasta salad dishes, why not try my Caprese Pasta Salad or my Greek Pasta Salad.

Why this Fajita Pasta Salad is so good!

• An easy pasta dish. One of the main reasons I love this recipe is because it is such a quick and flavorful recipe. This pasta salad literally takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish!
• Shrimp Fajita Pasta Salad makes the perfect all in one meal! This recipe is a well balanced meal with carbs, protein, and a serving of vegetables!
• A great side or main. This pasta salad goes great on it’s own or could be served with a side salad for an extra serving of veggies!
• Perfect for meal prep. It cooks quickly and stores well in food prep containers for the week. Which means you can make and pack your lunches for the week in just 30 minutes! 
• Versatile. We also love this dish because it is so versatile! Whether you want to make it gluten free, vegetarian, or swap the shrimp out for chicken, you can! 

Ingredients you’ll need

• Shrimp– For this recipe you need peeled, deveined shrimp.
• Pasta– I use bowtie pasta in this pasta salad recipe.
• Vegetables– Corn, purple onion, and bell pepper shine in this fajita pasta salad!
• Seasoning- A zesty southwest seasoning is used for cooking the shrimp and seasoning the finished pasta salad.
• Dressing-  olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice dressing. 

How to make this Shrimp Fajita Pasta Salad

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
• Dice the bell peppers, onion, and mice the garlic.
• In a bowl, toss the shrimp with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, lemon juice, and the fajita seasoning.
• In a 12 inch skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil and pan sear the shrimp. Cook the shrimp on both sides then set aside.
• In the same skillet, add 1 Tbsp. olive oil and pan sear the bell peppers until tender.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked shrimp, bell peppers, pasta, purple onion, corn, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe notes and tips

• It’s important to try and get three different colors of bell pepper if you can. A mix of bell peppers gives you a lovely mix of flavors and a pop of color!
• Frozen or canned corn work perfectly in this recipe, just be sure to thaw the frozen corn before adding it to the salad. 
• I used bowtie pasta. You could also use other small pastas such as elbow, shells, rotini, or penne pasta.
• For a pasta with the perfect texture, cook the pasta until just past al dente. Adding an extra minute or so of cook time will keep the pasta soft while it cools.

Frequently asked questions

Do I use fresh or frozen shrimp?

Either Fresh or frozen shrimp work beautifully in this recipe. If you are using frozen shrimp, be sure to safely thaw the shrimp before cooking. You can either allow the shrimp to come to room temperature in a glass bowl, or pour warm water over the shrimp to get it to thaw. 

Can I make this pasta salad gluten free?

Absolutely, in fact it works great. You can make this delicious shrimp pasta salad a delightfully gluten-free recipe by swapping the bowtie pasta for a gluten free pasta. 

Can I make this pasta salad vegetarian?

Again, absolutely! Simply omit the shrimp from the recipe to make a vegetarian option. You can add in some black beans for a hit of protein and a lovely texture.

What other protein can I use?

Swap the shrimp with chicken. Chicken also makes a delicious pasta salad. You will want to be careful with your cook time as cubed chicken cooks longer than shrimp. Make sure that when you are cooking the chicken you cook it all the way through. 

Other delicious pasta recipes

• Greek Pasta Salad 
• Turkish Bulgur Salad
• Shrimp Fajita Skillet Recipe
• Creamy One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta

I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you including this delicious and simple Shrimp Fajita Pasta Salad. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it and share it with your friends and family!

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