Creamy Pasta Salad
The best Creamy Pasta Salad recipe - with bacon, peas, and a rich, tangy dressing. A side dish that disappears fast! Always requested recipe!
Servings: 6 people
Equipment
- large pot
- Mixing bowls - I used a 4-quart bowl to serve this in.
- A large spoon to stir with
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon celery seeds
For the Pasta
- 1 16-ounce box small shell pasta, uncooked
- 1 ½ cups frozen peas thawed and dried
- 8-12 strips bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Make the dressing. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, Dijon mustard, and celery seeds well until creamy and smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate. Cover the bowl and place it in your refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Cook the pasta. Cook the pasta in a large pot according to the package instructions and drain the excess water (no need to rinse the pasta).
- Mix the pasta ingredients. In a large bowl, add the pasta, peas, bacon, and Parmesan cheese until well combined.
- Add the dressing. Add the dressing and stir once more until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing. Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour but up to 8 hours before serving.
- Place in a serving bowl, garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, and serve chilled.
Notes
Storage Instructions:
If you have leftover creamy pasta salad, you can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
What else can I add for additional flavors?
This creamy pasta salad is smokey, creamy, but has some freshness from the peas. Serve it as is or try one of the following to uplevel the flavors to your preferences.
- You can add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the dressing for a spicy kick.
- Add chopped celery for added flavor and crunch.
- Try adding a tablespoon of ranch dressing for a bold flavor.
