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Creamy Pasta Salad

Creamy Pasta Salad That Will Elevate Your Potluck Game

Creamy Pasta Salad combines crispy bacon and peas in a velvety dressing, perfect for any gathering.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 8 ounces Small Pasta Noodles like rotini or shells
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas thawed
  • 6 slices Thick-Cut Bacon cooked and chopped
  • 1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese for best flavor
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil or neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar or white vinegar/lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
  • to taste Salt according to preference
  • to taste Black Pepper freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
Optional Add-Ins
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup Cooked Chicken diced
  • 1 cup Diced Bell Peppers any color

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • Medium Bowl
  • large mixing bowl
  • Cheese grater
  • skillet

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  2. While pasta cooks, thaw peas at room temperature and cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese.
Making the Dressing
  1. Whisk together mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste.
Combining
  1. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, peas, bacon, and Parmesan. Pour dressing over and toss to combine.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 12gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 1mg

Notes

For best flavor, allow to chill for a couple of hours or overnight. Revive any leftovers with a splash of dressing.

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