Creamy Pasta Salad
Creamy pasta salad is a versatile and crowd-pleasing dish made with tender pasta, creamy dressing, and fresh vegetables. Customizable and easily adaptable, it can be a healthy, satisfying meal or a delightful side dish.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 12 oz small pasta noodles
- 2 cups frozen peas thawed
- 12 oz thick-cut bacon cooked and chopped
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For the Creamy Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp granulated sugar adjust to taste
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder adjust to taste
- ½ tsp onion powder adjust to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta noodles in a large pot of water following the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to cool it down.
- While the pasta cooks, ensure the peas are thawed, the bacon is cooked and crumbled, and the Parmesan is freshly grated. Set these aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and well-blended.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, thawed peas, crumbled bacon, and grated Parmesan. Pour the dressing over the top and stir everything together until the pasta and ingredients are evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to chill, or serve immediately.