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Creamy pasta salad in a white bowl with shell pasta, crispy bacon, peas, and Parmesan

Creamy Pasta Salad

Shell pasta, crispy bacon, and sweet peas tossed in a smooth tangy homemade creamy dressing. The perfect side dish for grilling nights, potlucks, and backyard dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 12 portions
Course: Dinner, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 379
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz small pasta noodles shells, rotini, or farfalle
  • 2 cups frozen peas fully thawed
  • 12 oz thick-cut bacon cooked and chopped
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 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

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Colander
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of unsalted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water until cooled, and shake off as much water as possible. Set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, thaw the peas completely, cook and crumble the bacon, and grate the Parmesan. Set everything aside.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until smooth.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, peas, bacon, and Parmesan to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and stir until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or serve immediately. Stir before serving and mix in extra dressing if the salad has dried out after chilling.

Notes

Do not salt pasta water as bacon and Parmesan already add saltiness. Dry pasta well after rinsing. For make-ahead, hold back half the dressing and the bacon until right before serving. If salad dries out after chilling, stir in extra dressing. Greek yogurt can replace all or part of the mayo for a lighter version.