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Bacon Pea Pasta Salad

Bacon Pea Pasta Salad

The Best Bacon Pea Pasta salad EVER! You put yummy peas mixed with bacon, mozzarella pearls, and a bit of red onion, and POW, you have the best salad around! 

Already sounds amazing, right? This easy salad is perfect for any bbq and perfectly served with baked chicken breast,  honey grilled shrimp, and other yummy other main dishes or even alone!

 

 

Best Bacon Pea Pasta salad

🧁 Sass Meets Salad: The Pasta Dish That Owns Summer

Darling, stop what you’re doing. Put down that sad celery stick and cancel your basic potato salad plans. Because this pasta salad? It’s here to steal the spotlight, crash your cookout, and leave your guests begging for the recipe.

We’re talking creamy, dreamy lemon mayo dressing. Bacon that snaps back. Peas so sweet they should be in rom-coms. And mozzarella pearls that look like they belong on jewelry but taste like they belong in your mouth.
This salad is not just food—it’s a vibe.

I love peas! Especially when they are fresh from the garden. So when I thought about a salad that featured peas and bacon, I was thrilled! 

This easy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is the result of my love of peas!  It’s a perfect addition to any backyard Summer party or an everyday family meal.

 

💅 The Salad That Dares to Be Different

Forget side dish status. This pasta salad has the guts, the glory, and the garnishes to go main course. It’s bold, it’s fresh, and it’s absolutely unapologetic. Need something fast, fancy, and fun for:

  • Baby showers?
  • Backyard bashes?
  • Your Tuesday night existential crisis?

Yup, it does it all. Toss it together in less than 30 minutes and call it done.

 

 

You can easily make this ahead and pull it out when you’re ready to party! In fact, it’s even better when made in advance. The flavors have a moment to marry!

 

Best Bacon Pea Pasta salad

INGREDIENTS

Pasta Salad

  • 12 ounces medium shells (or other small pasta of choice)
  • 2 cups frozen petite peas, thawed
  • 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1 cup of Mozzarella pearls

Lemon Dressing

  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Whisk together all of the Mayo Dressing Ingredients together in a medium bowl.  Refrigerate until ready to use.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions just until al dente.  Rinse with cold water and drain.  Drizzle with a little olive oil to keep from sticking.
  3. Add pasta, peas, onion, and dressing to a large bowl and toss until evenly combined.  If serving immediately then add bacon, mozzarella pearls and toss to combine.  If not serving immediately then cover and chill in the refrigerator. If not serving right away, you might need to add a little more dressing to it. It tends to soak up all the dressing.

🍽️ Calorie Count & Nutritional Breakdown

We know you’re not only here for flavor (though that’s reason enough). Here’s what one generous serving serves up—based on 8 servings total:

Nutrient Amount (Per Serving)
Calories ~380 kcal
Total Fat ~24g
Saturated Fat ~7g
Protein ~12g
Carbohydrates ~28g
Sugar ~3g
Fiber ~3g
Sodium ~580mg

🥄 Hot tip: Want a lighter version? Sub Greek yogurt for some mayo, go turkey bacon, and drop a few mozzarella pearls (or don’t—we don’t judge).

 

🔥 Cooking Tips for the Fiercely Fabulous

Let’s make this dish slay harder than a summer playlist.

1. Al Dente Always

Soft pasta is a crime against the salad gods. Cook just until it gives a little bounce. Mushy pasta = limp vibes.

2. Rinse & Drain Like a Pro

Cold water stops the cooking, cools everything down, and keeps those shells from turning into gluey clumps.

3. Bacon Goes CRUNCH

We want crispy—not soggy, sad strips. Cook it until it sings and snaps when you bite.

4. Let’s Talk Onions

Raw red onion is a whole personality. Tone it down with a soak in lemon juice before adding—less bite, more sass.

5. Hold the Pearls ‘Til Showtime

Mozzarella pearls go in last-minute, so they don’t get lost in the dressing. They deserve to be the show-stoppers they are.

 

🧚‍♀️ Dressing Drama: Make It Divine

The dressing is the diva of this dish—and she knows it. Here’s what makes her shine:

  • Mayonnaise for richness
  • Olive oil for silkiness
  • Lemon juice + zest for zing
  • Dijon for kick
  • Red wine vinegar for sass
  • Sugar + salt + pepper for balance

💬 Chef’s whisper: Make the dressing ahead of time and refrigerate it. It thickens and the flavors marry like a dream

💡 Dress Before You Impress

If you’re not eating it right away, hold off on tossing with dressing. Pasta’s a thirsty girl—it’ll slurp it up faster than you can say “refrigeration.”
Save some extra dressing and give it a fresh splash before serving. Instant refresh.

 

Recipe Variations That Slay

Switch things up and show off your culinary alter ego:
🐓 Protein-Queen Pasta
Add grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even shrimp. Suddenly, you’ve got a full meal that screams elegance.
🔥 Spice It Real Nice
Toss in chili flakes, diced jalapeños, or hot honey drizzle. A little sass never hurt anyone.
🧀 Caprese-Inspired
Mozzarella pearls meet halved cherry tomatoes and fresh basil—maybe even a balsamic glaze swirl. Pure romance.
🧭 Mediterranean Muse
Add kalamata olives, chopped cucumbers, sun-dried tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta. Drama in every bite.
🍋 Vegan Twist
Skip the bacon, sub vegan mayo, and toss in roasted chickpeas for crunch. Even the salad skeptics will swoon.

 

Final Thoughts: The Salad That Loves You Back

This pasta salad is proof you don’t need stress to impress. It’s:

  • Budget-friendly
  • Prep-friendly
  • Crowd-friendly
  • Self-esteem-friendly

And most of all: tastes like pure joy in a bowl.

She doesn’t demand attention—she gets it effortlessly.

Serve her with iced tea and a wink. Or with rosé and a tiara. Live your best salad life.

 

🎉 Conclusion: A Bowlful of Brilliance

Listen. Some recipes just do the most with the least. This one?

✅ No weird ingredients ✅ No complicated steps ✅ No culinary heartbreak

Just bacon, pasta, peas, and a whole lotta love.

Make it once and your friends will beg for it again. Make it twice and you’ll start calling yourself a salad icon. Make it three times? You’re hosting your own cooking show.

This dish will become your signature. Your legacy. Your brunch mic drop.

So go forth, pasta queen. Toss it, serve it, post it, and most importantly—own it.

Tag us on Insta or leave us a comment below!  We love hearing from you! 

 

 

 

15 thoughts on “Bacon Pea Pasta Salad”

  8. This seems like an inexpensive and healthy meal option for our family! Thanks so much for sharing this.

    Reply

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