This Creamy Pasta Salad is a classic side dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser! It features tender pasta, sweet peas, crispy bacon, and a rich, creamy dressing that’s bursting with flavor. I love how this recipe is both easy to make and incredibly versatile. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, barbecues, or a simple side dish for any meal. Get ready for a pasta salad that’s both comforting and delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Pasta Salad
- Creamy and Flavorful: The homemade dressing, made with mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of sweetness, is incredibly creamy and flavorful.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: It’s a great side dish for potlucks, barbecues, picnics, or any gathering.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the ingredients to your liking.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: This pasta salad tastes even better when made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld.
Ingredients for Creamy Pasta Salad
Here’s what you’ll need to make this classic pasta salad. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Small pasta noodles (Pasta)
- Frozen peas, thawed (Vegetable)
- Thick cut bacon, cooked and chopped (Meat)
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (Dairy)
Creamy Dressing
- Mayonnaise (Condiment)
- Olive oil (Oil)
- Apple cider vinegar (Acid)
- Granulated sugar (to taste) (Sweetener)
- Salt (to taste) (Seasoning)
- Garlic powder (to taste) (Spice)
- Onion powder (to taste) (Spice)
- Black pepper (to taste) (Spice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this Creamy Pasta Salad as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Add More Vegetables: Toss in some chopped red onion, bell peppers, celery, or cucumbers.
- Different Cheese: Use cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, or a blend of cheeses instead of Parmesan.
- Make it a Meal: Add some cooked and shredded chicken, tuna, or ham for extra protein.
- Add Herbs: Stir in some chopped fresh dill, parsley, or chives.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
How to Make Creamy Pasta Salad
Let me show you how easy it is to make this Creamy Pasta Salad:
Cook the Pasta
- I cook the pasta noodles in a large pot of water according to their package directions, until cooked al dente.
- I drain the water out, and rinse the noodles in cold water.
Prepare Ingredients
- While the pasta is cooking, I make sure the peas are thawed, the bacon is cooked and crumbled, and the Parmesan is grated. I set them aside.
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl, I add the mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- I whisk them together until combined.
Combine and Chill
- I add the cooked and rinsed pasta, thawed peas, crumbled bacon, and grated Parmesan cheese to a large bowl.
- I pour the dressing over the top.
- I stir it all together until everything is coated evenly in the dressing.
- I 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. Chilling allows the flavors to meld together, but it’s delicious either way!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Pasta Salad
Here are my secrets for making this pasta salad truly exceptional:
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook the pasta just until it’s al dente, as it will soften slightly as it sits in the dressing.
- Rinse the Pasta: Rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking stops the cooking process and prevents it from sticking together.
- Use Good Quality Mayonnaise: The flavor of the mayonnaise will really shine through, so use a good quality one that you enjoy.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dressing and adjust the salt, pepper, and sugar to your liking.
- Chill Before Serving: Chilling the pasta salad for at least an hour allows the flavors to meld together.
How to Serve
This Creamy Pasta Salad is perfect for:
- Potlucks and Barbecues: A classic side dish for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics.
- Summer Meals: A refreshing and flavorful side dish for summer meals.
- Lunch: A satisfying and delicious lunch option.
- Side Dish: Serve it alongside grilled meats, sandwiches, or burgers.
Make Ahead and Storage
This pasta salad is best made ahead of time to allow the flavors to meld. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
FAQs about Creamy Pasta Salad
- Can I use a different type of pasta?
- Yes, you can use any type of short pasta you like, such as rotini, fusilli, or shells.
- Can I make this without the bacon?
- Yes, you can omit the bacon for a vegetarian version.
- Can I use frozen peas without thawing them?
- Yes, you can.
Enjoy this creamy, flavorful, and easy-to-make Creamy Pasta Salad! It’s a perfect side dish for any occasion.
Print
Creamy Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Creamy Pasta Salad is a quick, easy, and flavorful side dish perfect for potlucks, picnics, or barbecues. Small pasta noodles, peas, crispy bacon, and Parmesan cheese are tossed in a creamy, tangy homemade dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 12 ounces small pasta noodles (such as ditalini, small shells, elbow macaroni, or rotini), cooked al dente
- 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
- 12 ounces thick-cut bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For the Creamy Dressing:
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Set aside.
- Prepare Other Ingredients: While the pasta is cooking, ensure the frozen peas are thawed. Cook the bacon until crispy, drain on paper towels, and crumble it. Grate the Parmesan cheese.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Combine Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, thawed peas, crumbled bacon, and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Add Dressing: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture.
- Toss to Coat: Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Chill (Optional): Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. This step is optional, but it improves the flavor. The salad can also be served immediately.
- Serve.
Notes
- Pasta: Small pasta shapes work best in this salad, as they hold the dressing well.
- Peas: Thaw the frozen peas completely before adding them to the salad.
- Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy for the best texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Dressing: You can adjust the amount of sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper in the dressing to your preference.
- Make-Ahead: This pasta salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Serving Suggestions: This salad is a great side dish for potlucks, picnics, barbecues, or any gathering.
- Storage Store in the fridge.