Creamy Pasta Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Parmesan Recipe
This Creamy Pasta Salad is a delightful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender pasta, sweet peas, crispy bacon, and a savory parmesan cheese blend, all tossed in a rich, tangy mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or a refreshing side dish, this salad offers a perfect balance of creamy texture and savory flavors, ready in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 12 oz small pasta noodles
- 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
Meat
- 12 oz thick-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
Dressing and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp 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 Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the noodles.
- Prepare Ingredients: While the pasta is cooking, ensure the peas are thawed, the bacon is cooked and chopped into small pieces, and the parmesan cheese is freshly grated. Set these ingredients aside.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk the mixture thoroughly until it forms a smooth, creamy dressing.
- Combine Salad: In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, thawed peas, chopped bacon, and grated parmesan cheese. Pour the dressing over the top and stir gently but thoroughly until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 1 to 2 hours to enhance the flavors, or serve immediately if preferred.
Notes
- For best flavor, make the salad at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- You can substitute bacon with turkey bacon for a leaner option.
- Feel free to add chopped celery or red bell pepper for extra crunch and color.
- If you prefer a lighter dressing, use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Adjust seasoning according to your taste preferences.
Keywords: creamy pasta salad, pasta salad with bacon, easy pasta salad, picnic salad, creamy dressing pasta
