This Broccoli Pasta Salad is loaded with broccoli and other veggies the tossed in creamy parmesan dressing! The perfect flavor and side dish for your summer gatherings.
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 or take to gatherings.
This is such a simple recipe that you cannot go wrong with it at all. Trust me when you taste this Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe you will not go back to any other side.
Some of my other favorite summer sides include: Corn and Tomato Salad, Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad and Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- With a fresh and flavorful dressing, it really makes this salad.
- The addition of pasta and vegetables give it a great flavor and texture contrast.
- You can double this recipe to serve more at gatherings.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE BELOW):
Mayonnaise
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Granulated sugar
White vinegar
Black pepper
Rotini pasta
Bacon small dice
Broccoli
Red bell pepper
Red onion
Peas
HOW TO MAKE BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD:
- In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and whisk to combine, set aside.
- Cook the pasta per directions on the back of the box, do not overcook. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain as you assemble the rest of the salad, so a lot of the water drips off.
- In the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked bacon, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, and frozen peas.
- 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.
WHAT GOES WITH PASTA SALAD?
There are so many delicious ideas to serve with Broccoli Pasta Salad. Some options include a grilled panini sandwich, corn on the cob, or baked sweet potatoes.
This broccoli pasta salad 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 Broccoli Pasta Salad without having your pasta noodles clump together.
HOW TO STORE:
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.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- You can use any small pasta for this recipe.
- Add in any of your favorite vegetables, we included the ones we liked but you can swap them out.
- This needs time to chill so the flavors can combined, so make sure you do chill this recipe.
- Make sure you rinse your pasta in cold water after cooking to remove the starch and cool down the salad.
- You can double this recipe to serve at larger gatherings or to have more for meals over the next few days.
If you want that perfect summertime salad then you absolutely need to make this Broccoli Pasta Salad, you will absolutely fall in love!
If you like this recipe you might also like:
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!
Broccoli Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon fresh black pepper
For the salad:
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon small dice cooked crispy
- 1 cup bite-sized cut broccoli florets
- 1/2 small diced red bell pepper
- 1/8 cup small diced red onion
- 3/4 cup frozen peas
Instructions
For the dressing:
- In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients and whisk to combine, set aside.
For the salad:
- Cook the pasta per directions on the back of the box, do not overcook. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let drain as you assemble the rest of the salad, so a lot of the water drips off.
- In the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked bacon, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, and frozen peas.
- 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.
Notes
- You can use any small pasta for this recipe.
- Add in any of your favorite vegetables, we included the ones we liked but you can swap them out.
- This needs time to chill so the flavors can combined, so make sure you do chill this recipe.
- Make sure you rinse your pasta in cold water after cooking to remove the starch and cool down the salad.
- You can double this recipe to serve at larger gatherings or to have more for meals over the next few days.
- Pecan Sandies - October 25, 2021
- Turkey Tetrazzini - October 23, 2021
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake - October 22, 2021
I must be blind I can not see the measurements for ingredients
The recipe is at the bottom of the post.