Description
Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad is a mouthwatering blend of creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and vibrant veggies. With easy prep and bold flavors, it’s ideal for quick dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz. uncooked short pasta
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimento peppers, drained
- 8 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled and divided
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta then rinse it with cold water to remove excess starch. Drain it thoroughly again and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
- Stir in the cheddar cheese, red onions, and pimento peppers. Then add the pasta and half of the crumbled bacon.
- Top the pasta salad with the remaining crumbled bacon and chopped chives. Serve fresh.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding diced bell peppers or celery.
Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste.
This salad can be made a day ahead for the flavors to meld.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg