Bacon and peas pasta salad is made with tender small pasta, frozen peas, bacon bits, and freshly grated Parmesan that’s tossed in creamy mayonnaise-based dressing for a delicious side dish the whole family will love.

Bacon And Peas Pasta Salad

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

Bacon and peas pasta salad is the ultimate crowd pleasing side dish.

It’s creamy, savory, and its super easy to make, too. This is a must try recipe for any event you’ve got this summer.

The pop of peas goes perfectly with the smoky crunchy bacon, and the Parmesan cheese adds an irresistibly salty kick.

I absolutely love a good pasta salad. I grew up on my Mom’s Famous Tortellini Salad at almost every BBQ and family party of the summer.

This recipe was given to me a few years ago and I immediately fell in love with it. It’s so nice to change things up every once in a while.

I recently made it down in Lavallette, New Jersey, to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We packed it up in the cooler to eat along with my Italian Summer Sammies and it was such a huge hit.

Everyone raved about it. This recipe is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a no-fuss side dish to any meal.

I hope you give this recipe a try. If you do, I know you’ll love it just as much as my family and I do.

Bacon And Peas Pasta Salad Variations

I like this pasta salad recipe made just the way it is, but here are some ways to change it up if you’d like to.

• Pasta- Any kind/shape of small pasta line Daltini would be ok to use here.
• Bacon- Use cooked and crumbled bacon or precooked bacon bits for this recipe.

Other Easy Pasta Salad Recipes

If you like super easy to make pasta salad recipes like this one, here are some others that I know you’ll love, too.

• Italian Combo Pasta Salad
• Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Mexican Macaroni Salad
• Greek Tortellini Salad

Bacon And Peas Pasta Salad Ingredients

• Small Shell Pasta, cooked to al dente
• Frozen Peas
• Bacon Bits or Cooked And Crumbled Bacon
• Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated

For the Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Olive Oil
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
• Dried Parsley

Instructions

First, run the cooked pasta under cold water (to stop the cooking process), strain it, and add it to a large bowl.

Now, add the frozen peas (no need to thaw them).

Then, add the bacon bits or cooked and crumbled bacon.

Next, add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Now, in a separate bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and parsley. Pour the dressing into the bowl of pasta.

Next, mix everything together until it’s evenly combined.

Now, cover the bowl and place it into the fridge for 2 hours so the flavors can combine.

Finally, toss everything together one last time, serve and enjoy! (If the pasta is a little too dry, feel free to add in a few more tablespoons of mayonnaise).

Click the above image to view the products that were featured in the recipe tutorial video.