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Home » Salad

Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad (With Bacon)

May 27, 2024 · Last updated: Apr 18, 2025 by Rita · This post contains paid affiliate links · 1 Comment

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This fresh and easy Broccoli cheddar pasta salad is one of my favorites. It is packed with crisp vegetables and fresh cheddar, tossed with a simple homemade mayonnaise dressing.

You'll love this easy recipe, prepared in 15 minutes, as a summertime salad.

Pasta recipes are so easy and go well with all the veggies! Check out this Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta, Zesty Italian Pasta Salad, and Baked Pepperoni Pasta.

They're guaranteed to satisfy even picky eaters. This Cheddar Broccoli Pasta Salad is no exception!

🥦 In this post, learn how to make an easy pasta salad, plus get loads of tips and tricks for the best results.

Jump To
  • 🛒Ingredients and Substitutions
  • 🥘 How To Make Broccoli Chicken Pasta Salad Step By Step
  • Rita's Tip
  • 📋Tips For Making Broccoli Cheddar Salad
  • 🍴Tools You'll Need
  • Freezing and Storing Leftover Broccoli Chicken Pasta Salad
  • What To Serve With Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad
  • More Salad Recipes You'll Like
  • Did You Try This Recipe? 
  • 📖Recipe
  • 🤷Frequently Asked Questions
  • 💬 Comments

🛒Ingredients and Substitutions

This broccoli pasta salad recipe uses a handful of basic ingredients that might already be in your pantry:

  • Pasta - Rotini pasta is the most popular pasta type for cold salads. This is because sauces and dressings cling to the noodles. Penne or farfalle (bowties) are also great options. Use tri-colored pasta for a pretty pasta salad.
  • Bacon - Cooked separately until crispy, crumbled, and added in the last stage. Add it at the last minute to retain its texture and crunch. If you don't like using bacon, try it with smoked turkey. 
  • Cheese - Colby Jack, Monterey, or cubed or shredded cheddar cheese all work well in this salad. Try snack cheese cubes (regular or with added flavors, e.g., herbs, paprika) and more parmesan.
  • Broccoli - If you don't like broccoli, cauliflower is a great alternative and also really nutritious. If using both, divide the fresh broccoli and cauliflower equally.
  • Tomatoes - Cocktail, cherry, red vine, or plum tomatoes all work well and deliver a burst of antioxidants. 
  • Mayonnaise - This is key to this pasta salad's rich, thick, and creamy dressing (Miracle Whip is ok too). For a vegan option, try vegan mayonnaise or full-fat coconut milk.
  • Vinegar - Use milder and lighter vinegar here. White wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar are ideal.

👩‍🍳 You'll find the complete list of ingredients below the recipe card.

🥘 How To Make Broccoli Chicken Pasta Salad Step By Step

  1. Prepare the pasta. First, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Once cooked, cool, drain and rinse. Set the pasta aside. 
  2. Blanch the broccoli. To do this, cook the small florets in salted water and boil them in a medium saucepan/pot for 3 minutes. Remove the broccoli, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. A bowl filled with ice is the most efficient method. Drain and dry the broccoli and set it aside. Discard the ice water.
  3. To make the dressing, mix the mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, sour cream, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
  4. Combine the dressing, vegetables, and cheese. Cover the bowl and refrigerate. The pasta salad can be made hours before serving, but it should be chilled for at least 2 hours.
  5. When ready to serve, assemble the salad, top it with the bacon, and stir everything through. Serve the crunchy salad immediately. 
rotini pasta salad with broccoli and cheddar on a green plate

Rita's Tip

Cook the pasta to al dente. This way, it will be tender pasta rather than mushy.

📋Tips For Making Broccoli Cheddar Salad

  • Tip 1. As it is a cold salad, the pasta should be chilled once cooked. Coat the cooked and cooled pasta in olive oil to prevent it from sticking together.
  • Tip 2. Let the veggie pasta salad absorb the creamy dressing. Chill the pasta salad for one or two hours, allowing the flavors to meld.

🍴Tools You'll Need

  • Food processor
  • Large skillet pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Measuring cup

Freezing and Storing Leftover Broccoli Chicken Pasta Salad

  • 🍱To Store. If you have leftovers, pop them into an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
  • 🥶Freezing. This broccoli salad is not good to freeze, as it becomes mushy when it thaws.

What To Serve With Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad

Do you love this recipe? Here's what to serve alongside it:

  • As a side dish to BBQ meats and other delicious recipes on the barbecue.
  • Delicious deli roast beef sandwiches
  • Grilled salmon or tuna
  • Burgers- like these Juicy Bacon Cheddar Burger or Salmon Patties / Salmon Burger
  • Works great with barbecue chicken
  • Mac and cheese
  • Sandwiches, wraps, toasts, paninis
  • Fried foods such as fried chicken wings, thighs, etc.
  • Hot dogs
  • Corn on the cob, either grilled, boiled, or baked in the oven
rotini pasta salad with broccoli and cheddar on a green plate

🥘 Make Next: Fried Cabbage With Bacon, Garlic and Onion

More Salad Recipes You'll Like

If you like this cold pasta salad recipe, be sure not to miss those too:

  • Chicken Salad Recipe With Grapes And Pecans
  • Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
  • Creamy Tuna Pasta Salad
  • Creamy Potato Salad With Bacon And Cheese

Did You Try This Recipe? 

Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and share it on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest!

📖Recipe

rotini pasta salad with broccoli and cheddar on a green plate

Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad (With Bacon)

This fresh and easy Cheddar Broccoli Pasta Salad is packed with crisp vegetables, fresh cheddar, and tossed with a simple homemade mayonnaise dressing. Once all the ingredients are mixed, refrigerate for a few hours or consume right away!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Course Salad
Servings 6 people
Calories 429 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz pasta, rotini, or similar
  • 5-6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
  • ½ cup green peas, frozen or canned
  • 1 cup broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 cup tri-color bell peppers, diced
  • ½ small red onion, diced
  • ½ cup Cheddar Mix or Colby Jack Cheese, shredded
  • 6 cherry or plum tomatoes, cut in half

Salad Dressing

  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoon parmesan, grated
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Prepare pasta according to package directions.
    8 oz pasta
  • Blanch the broccoli. Fill a medium saucepan/pot with water, enough to cover the broccoli. Add salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and lower the broccoli into the water. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes; remove the florets with kitchen tongs and place them into ice-cold water. Once cooled, drain and pat dry with a towel. Set aside.
    1 cup broccoli florets
  • Dressing. In a bowl, mix mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, sour cream, parmesan, salt, and pepper.
    ¾ cup mayonnaise, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon sour cream or Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoon parmesan, salt and black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon apple cider or white wine vinegar
  • Once the pasta is cooked and drained well, place it in a large bowl.
  • Pour in the dressing, and add the veggies and cheddar. Stir well.
    ½ cup green peas, 1 cup tri-color bell peppers, ½ small red onion, ½ cup Cheddar Mix or Colby Jack Cheese, 6 cherry or plum tomatoes
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours.
  • Before serving, add crumbled bacon, stir, and serve immediately! Enjoy!
    5-6 bacon slices

Notes

  • To Store. If you have leftovers, pop them into an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
  • Freezing. This broccoli salad is not good to freeze, as it becomes mushy when it thaws.

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 9gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 334mgPotassium: 206mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 225IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

🤷Frequently Asked Questions

Should you rinse pasta for broccoli cheddar pasta salad?

No, we wouldn't recommend rinsing pasta for pasta salad at all.

Rinsing will remove the thick starch content that helps the sauce absorb better and make the best veggie pasta salad for your dinner. 

How do you cool pasta down for salad?

If in a rush, you can easily chill your cooked pasta quickly. After cooking, remove the water by placing your noodles into a colander.

Once drained, transfer the whole colander with pasta into a large pot filled with ice-cold water and chill for a few minutes.

Drain the water, drizzle with a small amount of olive oil, and store it in the fridge before it is ready to use. Remember to cover it first!

Can I cook pasta the day before for pasta salads?

Yes, pasta can be cooked 2-3 days ahead of time.

Why is my homemade pasta soggy?

If using homemade pasta in this salad, note that it cooks much quicker than dried pasta and could easily get soggy. 

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Comments

  1. Rita

    September 21, 2021 at 12:15 am

    5 stars
    A perfect bowl of cheddar broccoli salad goes well with any main course or simply enjoyed on it's own!

    Reply

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Hello! I'm Rita. Here you'll find delicious, easy, and family-trusted recipes with easy step-by-step instructions. There is nothing better than enjoying good food and wine with your loved ones!

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