![\"pasta-salad-with-bacon\"](\"https:\/\/www.derrickriches.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pasta-salad-with-bacon-scaled-e1737409390522.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nBest times to serve pasta salad<\/h3>\n
This bacon pasta salad is easy to whip up and versatile. Serve it for birthday parties, game day events like tailgating or Super Bowl, family reunions, picnics, brunches, or summer cookouts. It makes the perfect side dish for grilled or smoked meats like brisket, BBQ chicken, ham ribs, steaks, or pulled pork.<\/p>\n
Variations<\/h3>\n\n- Customize this bacon pasta salad with extra ingredients! Here are a few suggestions:<\/li>\n
- Cocktail shrimp<\/strong>: Fold 1 cup of small shrimp into the pasta salad right before chilling it in the refrigerator.<\/li>\n
- Diced rotisserie chicken<\/strong>: Fold in 1 cup before refrigerating.<\/li>\n
- Shredded cheddar cheese<\/strong>: Fold in 1\/2-2\/3 cup of shredded cheese before refrigerating.<\/li>\n
- Green onion<\/strong>: add 1-2 finely chopped green onions to the dressing<\/li>\n
- Ranch dressing<\/strong>: substitute mayonnaise for prepared ranch dressing (make your own using a ranch dressing mix, or reach for a good quality dressing like Litehouse<\/em> or Marie\u2019s<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More Recipes<\/h3>\n\n
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![\"creamy-bacon-pasta-salad\"](\"https:\/\/www.derrickriches.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/creamy-bacon-pasta-salad.jpg\")
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\n- 1 16-<\/span> ounce<\/span> box of rotini pasta<\/span> spiral<\/span><\/li>\n
- 6<\/span> strips of cooked thin-cut bacon<\/span> finely chopped (sub with turkey bacon)<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1 <\/span> 2.25-ounce<\/span> can of sliced black olives<\/span> drained<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1 1\/2<\/span> tablespoons<\/span> chopped fresh chives<\/span> sub with parsley or 1 finely chopped green onion<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1<\/span> cup<\/span> fresh baby spinach<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1\/2<\/span> cup<\/span> real mayonnaise<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1\/2<\/span> cup<\/span> sour cream<\/span><\/li>\n
- 2<\/span> tablespoons<\/span> grated parmesan cheese<\/span><\/li>\n
- 2<\/span> teaspoons<\/span> white vinegar<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1<\/span> teaspoon<\/span> Dijon mustard<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1\/4<\/span> teaspoon<\/span> garlic powder<\/span><\/li>\n
- 1\/4<\/span> teaspoon<\/span> Creole seasoning<\/span><\/li>\n
- Salt and black pepper to taste<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cook pasta (al dente) according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta, rinse it with cold water, and drain once more. Set aside.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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In a large bowl, whisk together real mayonnaise, sour cream, parmesan, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, paprika, and salt and black pepper to taste.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Next, gently fold in the pasta, black olives, chives, baby spinach, and half of the chopped bacon with the dressing.<\/span>(see notes section below for recipe add-ons and variations)*<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Taste pasta, and adjust seasonings to your liking.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n- \n
Transfer the pasta salad to a serving dish. Garnish with remaining chopped bacon. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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For safe serving, fill a large disposable aluminum tray halfway 1\/3 of the way full of water, and place it in the freezer for 1-2 hours until it is frozen solid. This step can be done while the pasta salad is refrigerating.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Once you are ready to serve, set the bowl inside the ice tray and serve. This will keep the pasta salad cold. Replenish with ice as needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Pasta salad can be made a day ahead of time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0<\/span> Variations<\/span> Customize this bacon pasta salad with extra ingredients! Here are a few suggestions:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Cocktail shrimp: Fold 1 cup of small shrimp into the pasta salad right before chilling it in the refrigerator.<\/li>\n
- Diced rotisserie chicken: Fold in 1 cup before refrigerating.<\/li>\n
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Fold in 1\/2-2\/3 cup of shredded cheese before refrigerating.<\/li>\n
- Green onion: add 1-2 finely chopped green onions to the dressing.<\/li>\n
- Ranch dressing: substitute mayonnaise for prepared ranch dressing (make your own, or use a good quality dressing like Litehouse<\/em> or Marie\u2019s<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Calories: <\/span>465<\/span>kcal<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Carbohydrates: <\/span>53<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Protein: <\/span>15<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Fat: <\/span>28<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Saturated Fat: <\/span>8<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Polyunsaturated Fat: <\/span>10<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Monounsaturated Fat: <\/span>8<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Trans Fat: <\/span>0.1<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Cholesterol: <\/span>35<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Sodium: <\/span>320<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Potassium: <\/span>288<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Fiber: <\/span>3<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Sugar: <\/span>3<\/span>g<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Vitamin A: <\/span>692<\/span>IU<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Vitamin C: <\/span>2<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Calcium: <\/span>60<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span> | <\/span>Iron: <\/span>1<\/span>mg<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![\"bacon](\"https:\/\/www.derrickriches.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/bacon-pasta-salad-scaled-e1737409243130.jpg\")