Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is made with peas, corn and bacon tossed in lemon garlic dressing.
You really can’t go wrong with pasta salad. If the noodles are cooked and you have a few classic flavors thrown in there, it’s something that the whole family can enjoy for days (seriously – holy leftovers!). This Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is a particular favorite of mine, as it’s fast to make, versatile, and inexpensive. As a result, it makes the perfect addition to any garden party, summer BBQ, or weeknight meal.
What I love about this Bacon Pea Pasta Salad are the kid-friendly ingredients. Not only does it contain deliciously salty bacon, but it includes sweet peas, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and corn – all of which are usually kid-approved!
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These ingredients also lend the dish a vibrant color, and the pops of yellow and green look incredible when paired with the bacon bits and adorable bow-tie pasta. Oh, and did I mention that the veggies require zero chopping? Talk about a win-win!
Like most pasta salads, you can easily make this dish ahead of time and pull it out when you need it. If I’m being honest, it’s even better the day after.
You can serve this pasta salad with burgers, chicken, or anything fresh off the grill, but it’s also substantial enough to be eaten as a light meal during summertime.
I genuinely struggle to stop at just one bowl of this stuff, so let’s see if you have more willpower than I do!
Why You’ll Love Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
- It’s easy to make
- It makes tons of leftovers
- It’s ready in just a few minutes
- It’s a major hit at barbecues and garden parties
- It’s perfect for fussy eaters
Ingredients
- Bow tie pasta
- Frozen corn
- Frozen peas
- Bacon
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
How to Make Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
- Step One: Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot on the stove.
- Step Two: Add corn and peas and cook for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and set aside.
- Step Three: Cook pasta and drain into the same colander as the corn and peas. Set aside.
- Step Four: Add olive, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper to a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Step Five: Add pasta, corn, peas, and bacon to a large bowl. Add dressing ingredients and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
- Step Six: Chill until ready to serve.
Equipment Needed
This recipe is incredibly easy to make, and you only need a few vital pieces of equipment to make get the party started!
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What to Serve with Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
This recipe works great as a standalone dish, but it’s also perfect for pulling out at barbecues. If you’re looking for ideas that will work well alongside this recipe, check out these juicy burgers!
- Easy Stuffed Burgers
- Chicken Fajita Burgers
- Taco Chicken Burgers
- Deluxe Pizza Burgers
- Cream Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno Burgers
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Be careful not to overcook your pasta. The key to this recipe is keeping the pasta at a firm consistency that’s just short of al dente. This should prevent it from going soft and icky in the pasta salad.
- Rinse your pasta before adding it to the salad. When you’ve cooked pasta before, you may have noticed that it can have a starchy layer. While this may be fine for traditional pasta dishes served with sauce, you’ll want to remove this starchy layer before using the pasta in this recipe.
- Remember to remove any excess water from your pasta before making your salad too!
Variations and Substitutions
- You can use canned peas and corn instead of fresh varieties but be aware that they may not be as pleasant a texture as frozen. They tend to be slightly less vibrant and a bit mushier.
- If you don’t have fresh bacon, you can buy bacon bits and stir them through the salad just before serving.
- Bow tie pasta works best for this recipe, but you can switch it out for fusilli, penne, or any other sturdy shape that you have on hand.
- Feel free to switch regular pasta for wholewheat or chickpea pasta. This should give you a slightly healthier and more filling variation on this recipe.
Storage Instructions
You should store this Bacon Pea Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last for up to 4 days but watch out for any changes in texture or funky smells before going in on the 4th day!
Can I Freeze?
Yes, you can freeze this Bacon Pea Pasta Salad!
Most frozen pasta salads will last up to 3 months in the freezer if placed in airtight containers or ziptop bags.
When you’re ready to eat it, just take the pasta salad out the night before and enjoy the next day!
Salad Recipes
Looking for more? Check out these delicious salads that will have your mouth watering!
- Rainbow Fruit Salad – this bright and colorful salad stores easily and is the perfect summertime dessert.
- Sunshine Salad – I love serving this recipe for picnics in the park, and it’s packed with sweet, seasonal fruit that will help you beat the heat. I promise that it’ll make healthy eating feel like a breeze.
- Greek Pasta Salad – this salad is a wonderful side for garden parties, and it’s bursting with fresh flavors and unique textures.
- Macaroni Dill Salad – the addition of fresh dill and radishes gives this pasta salad a distinctive flavor that’s bound to impress BBQ guests.
- Chili Pasta Salad – tender bowtie noodles mixed with a spicy chili and tangy garlic dressing make a delicious pasta salad!
You’ll also like this Tortellini Salad and Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
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Easy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
A yummy pasta salad made with peas, corn and bacon tossed in lemon garlic dressing. Sooo good!
Ingredients
- 2 cups bow tie pasta, uncooked
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring 6 cups of water to a boil in a medium pot on the stove. Add corn and peas and cook for 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and set aside.
- Cook pasta and drain into the same colander as the corn and peas. Set aside.
- Add olive, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper to a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add pasta, corn, peas and bacon to a large bowl. Add dressing ingredients and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired.
- Chill until ready to serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 374Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 587mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 13g
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