Description
A foolproof, creamy pasta salad featuring crisp bacon, sharp cheddar, and a tangy mayo-based dressing. This Southern-style side dish is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or meal prep, and actually tastes better the next day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) rotini or fusilli pasta
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon (about 340g)
- 1.5 cups (170g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (240g) full-fat mayonnaise
- ½ cup (120g) full-fat sour cream
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: ½ cup diced celery
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a cold skillet over medium-high heat until crispy (10-12 minutes). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool completely, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, but remove 1 minute early. Drain in a colander; do not rinse.
- While pasta is still warm, place it in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with white vinegar and toss gently to coat. Let pasta cool to room temperature (20-30 minutes).
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, yellow mustard, sugar, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Once pasta is cool, pour the dressing over it. Add crumbled bacon and shredded cheddar cheese. Toss gently but thoroughly until every noodle is coated.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
- Before serving, give the salad a good stir. If the dressing has thickened, add a tiny splash of milk or vinegar to loosen it.
Notes
Do not rinse the pasta; the starch helps the dressing cling. Ensure the pasta is completely cool before adding the dressing to prevent the mayo from breaking. The salad tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Do not freeze, as the mayo and sour cream will separate.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: pasta salad, southern pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, easy side dish, potluck recipe, meal prep, summer salad