Creamy Pasta Salad
This creamy pasta salad is loaded with peas, crispy bacon, and noodles, all covered in a smooth and creamy dressing. It's a perfect side dish for any dinner, potluck, or barbecue.
Servings: 12
Calories: 379kcal
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 12 oz small pasta noodles
- 2 cup frozen peas (thawed)
- 12 oz thick cut bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
For the Creamy Dressing:
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (to taste)
- 1 tsp salt (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta noodles in a large pot of water according to their package directions, until cooked al dente. Drain the water out, and rinse the noodles in cold water.
- While the pasta is cooking, make sure the peas are thawed, bacon is cooked and crumbled, and parmesan is grated. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk them together till combined.
- Add the pasta, peas, bacon, and parmesan to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top. Stir it all together till everything is coated evenly in the dressing.
- Cover the pasta bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for 1 to 2 hours, or serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: This pasta salad is a great make ahead recipe. Add everything together, except for the bacon and half the dressing, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge. When you're ready to serve the dish, toss in the crumbled bacon pieces, and the remaining dressing and serve.
- Pasta Noodles: I like to use medium sized pasta for this salad, I love medium shells, rotini, and farfalle the most.
- Cooking the Pasta: The dressing, and bacon are salty, so do not salt your pasta water. Also make sure not to overcook your pasta noodles. You want it cooked al dente so it's not too soggy, especially as it sits in the dressing.
- Extra Mix Ins: Add in any additional veggies or mix-ins that you think would be delicious, chopped up carrots, tomatoes, bell pepper, corn, cucumber, etc. Even making it more hearty with some grilled chicken pieces, or cubed ham would be delicious too. Also some cubed cheddar cheese would be yummy.
- Double the Dressing: I like the pasta salad as is, but many readers have noticed it gets soaked up by the pasta. If you want yours extra creamy, or will be storing in the fridge longer than an hour or two I recommend doubling the dressing recipe and adding half right away and the second half of it right before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 379kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 537mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 241IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg