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Easy Creamy Pasta Salad with Bacon and Peas

A rich and flavorful cold pasta salad loaded with crispy bacon, sweet peas, cheddar cheese, and a creamy homemade dressing.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Summer
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad
  • 12 oz rotini pasta
  • 8 slices bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
  • 1.5 cups green peas thawed
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed
  • 0.5 cup red onion finely diced
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Creamy Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Mixing bowls
  • Skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy, then crumble into small pieces.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard, salt, and pepper.
  4. Combine cooled pasta, bacon, peas, cheddar cheese, red onion, and parsley in a large bowl.
  5. Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

For extra creaminess, stir in a spoonful of mayonnaise before serving leftovers. This pasta salad tastes even better after chilling overnight.