Broccoli Pasta Salad with Bacon

This Broccoli Pasta Salad is loaded with broccoli and other veggies tossed in creamy parmesan dressing. It’s the perfect flavor and side dish for your summer gatherings.

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Summer side dishes are one of my favorite things, especially pasta salads! This Broccoli Pasta Salad is one of my favorites because it combines pasta and vegetables.

Also it includes bacon, I mean anything that has bacon is absolutely amazing in my honest opinion. Add a creamy dressing with parmesan and you have yourself one heck of a side.

This is one of our go-to recipes in the summertime, although I would eat this all year round we usually like to serve with a lot of grilling options.

It’s such a great way to get a little bit of everything into your diet too! All the yummy and healthy stuff you could ask for, and with simple ingredients.

All that smoky bacon and crisp broccoli florets come together in an easy recipe. It’s the perfect dish for family gatherings or just because!

It’s a family favorite when we have a summer barbecue. Pasta salad goes really well with just about any main dish, too.

This is such a simple recipe that you cannot go wrong with it at all. Trust me, when you taste this Broccoli Pasta Salad, you will not go back to any other side.

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Jump to:

• WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
• INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
• HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD:
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
• WHAT GOES WITH PASTA SALAD?
• HOW DO YOU MAKE PASTA NOT STICK TOGETHER?
• ANY ADDITIONS?
• ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
• HOW TO STORE:
• DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
• Broccoli Pasta Salad

1. With a fresh and flavorful dressing, it really makes this salad.
2. The addition of pasta and vegetables give this delicious pasta salad a great flavor and texture contrast.
3. You can double this simple pasta salad recipe to serve more at gatherings.

• Mayonnaise
• Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Granulated sugar
• White vinegar
• Black pepper
• Rotini pasta
• Bacon small dice
• Broccoli
• Red bell pepper
• Red onion
• Peas

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1. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and whisk to combine, set aside.
2. Cook the pasta per directions on the back of the box, do not overcook, just to al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain as you assemble the rest of the salad, so a lot of the water drips off.
3. In the bowl with the dressing, add the small pieces of cooked bacon, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, and frozen peas.
4. Stir to combine with the dressing. Add in the pasta and fold in to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let chill for at least an hour in the fridge or until cold.

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WHAT GOES WITH PASTA SALAD?

There are so many delicious ideas to serve with a good pasta salad. Some options include a grilled panini sandwich, corn on the cob, or baked sweet potatoes.

This perfect side dish includes most of your plant-based nutrients anyway, so adding another vegetable as a side dish may sound as scrumptious as a grilled panini sandwich for your side with pasta salad!

My recipe is rotini with broccoli, bacon, peas, and bell peppers in a creamy parmesan dressing. 

Served cold, it is the perfect summer staple incorporating two addictive summer salads: pasta salad and broccoli salad.

HOW DO YOU MAKE PASTA NOT STICK TOGETHER?

First of all, it is not advised to rinse pasta after cooking if you are serving it as a warm dish.

Not rinsing it will help yummy sauces stick to it.

The best way to make sure cold pasta doesn’t stick is to rinse your pasta immediately after cooking so that it removes the excess starch from the rotini that causes them to stick together.

Cold water is the best way to make cold pasta not stick and should be used immediately after you’ve cooked your pasta so that you can make this easy pasta salad without having your pasta noodles clump together.

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ANY ADDITIONS?

This is the best broccoli pasta salad I’ve come across.

That being said, you can make this cold pasta salad any way you want!

• Cheddar cheese: Add shredded cheddar cheese for a creamy, tangy flavor.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: Mix in sun-dried tomatoes for a slightly sweet and tangy taste.
• Lemon zest: Add a bit of lemon zest for a bright, citrusy kick.
• Red pepper flakes: Sprinkle red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
• Roasted broccoli: Roast the broccoli for a deeper, caramelized flavor.
• Chopped grilled chicken: Add some protein by tossing in chopped grilled chicken.
• Fresh herbs: Mix in chopped fresh herbs like parsley or basil for extra freshness.
• Pine nuts: Toasted pine nuts can add a nutty, crunchy texture.
• Crispy bacon: Top the salad with extra crispy bacon for more smoky flavor.
• Creamy feta cheese: Crumble some feta cheese for a tangy twist.

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

Maybe you like bowtie pasta. Perhaps you want different fresh veggies.

The best pasta salad is the one you make your own!

• Greek yogurt for mayonnaise: Substitute Greek yogurt for a lighter, tangy dressing.
• Apple cider vinegar for white vinegar: Use apple cider vinegar for a sweeter, more mellow acidity.
• Turkey bacon for regular bacon: Swap regular bacon with turkey bacon for a leaner option.
• Gluten-free pasta for rotini: Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
• Almonds for pine nuts: Use toasted sliced almonds as a nutty alternative to pine nuts.
• Frozen green beans for peas: Substitute frozen green beans if you’re out of peas or want a different vegetable.

This salad can be stored covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

You want to keep an eye on it that the other vegetables do not get soggy.

The broccoli is less prone to get soggy and it is actually great to make ahead of time so all the flavors can marry.

I do not suggest freezing.

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Do you want the perfect summertime salad, then you absolutely need to make this Broccoli Pasta Salad.

You will absolutely fall in love with it!

If you’ve tried this BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD, let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!