Creamy Pea and Bacon Pasta Salad
Bacon Pasta Salad is loaded with peas, crispy bacon, freshly grated parmesan cheese and smothered in a simple creamy tangy dressing. Not only is this pasta absolutely adored by everyone at parties, it's one of the easiest pasta salads you can make and doesn't require chopping any veggies!
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta shell noodles (salad shells)
- 1 lb. thick-cut bacon diced
- 2 cup frozen peas thawed
- 2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3/4 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and get the pasta cooked to al dente. While it's cooking, cook the diced bacon in a large skillet until it's crispy.
- Drain the pasta, rinse until cooled, and drizzle with some olive oil to prevent it from sticking together.
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients together in a small mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside 1/3 cup of the dressing to rehydrate the pasta salad before serving if needed.
- In a large bowl, add in the pasta, then the bacon and peas and pour over the dressing. Toss well to combine, then add in the parmesan cheese and toss again. Cover tightly and chill for a few hours before serving.