On the one hand, Loaded Pasta Salad is actually very simple; tender bow tie pasta, a creamy and herbaceous dressing, and some additions to make it all tasty. But on the other hand, it’s an ensemble piece, a collection of succulent bacon, bright tomatoes, sharp cheese, and spicy red onion making each bite of pasta something truly special. No matter how you choose to look at it, Loaded Pasta Salad really does deliver a big load of flavor in a hurry!
Ingredients
- 1 pound bow tie pasta
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- fresh chives, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –In a large pot of salted boiling water, add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 2 –Drain the pasta in a colander, then rinse it with cold water until cooled.
Step 3 –In a blender, add the mayonnaise, the milk, the garlic, the parsley, the dried chives, the onion powder, the salt, and the black pepper and blend until smooth.
Step 4 –In a large bowl, add the pasta and the mayonnaise mixture and stir together until well-combined.
Step 5 –Add the tomatoes, the cheese cubes, the lettuce, the red onion, and the crumbled bacon to the pasta mixture and stir gently to combine.
Step 6 –Serve garnished with the fresh chives.
