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–+ servings
Creamy broccoli pasta salad mixed with rotini, cheddar cheese, red onions, and dressing in a large glass bowl.

broccoli pasta salad

Crisp broccoli, tender rotini, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and a tangy-creamy dressing come together in this make-ahead Broccoli Pasta Salad. It’s the reliable potluck hero that even veggie-skeptics devour, and it tastes even better the next day.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish, Salad, Potluck Recipe
Cuisine: American, Deli-Style
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

The Base
  • 12 oz Rotini or fusilli pasta - Cooked just to al dente
  • 5 cups Fresh broccoli florets - Small grape-size pieces (raw)
  • 8 slices Thick-cut bacon -Cooked crisp crumbled
  • 1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese - Shredded
  • ½ cup Red onion - Finely diced
The Dressing
  • ¾ cup Mayonnaise - Or half mayo/half Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoon Apple cider vinega - Tangy balance
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Sugar - Adjust to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder -
  • ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt -To taste
  • ½ teaspoon Black pepper - Freshly ground

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot (Boil pasta )
  • 1 Colander (Drain/rinse pasta )
  • 1 Very large mixing bowl (Toss everything )
  • 1 Skillet or sheet pan (Cook bacon crisp )
  • 1 Cutting board & knife (Chop veg )

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; cook rotini to al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Let cool completely.
  2. Cut broccoli into small, bite-size florets (about grape size). Keep raw or blanch 45 seconds and ice-shock if you prefer.
  3. Cook bacon until crisp; drain, cool, and crumble.
  4. In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Taste—slightly tangy/sweet is ideal.
  5. In a very large bowl, combine cooled pasta, broccoli, bacon, cheddar, red onion, and tomatoes.
  6. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until evenly coated. Add a spoonful more mayo if it looks dry.

Nutrition

Serving: 200gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 9gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 520mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 160mgIron: 1.2mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

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