Description

This Summer Pasta Salad is a light, refreshing, and vibrant dish combining tender rotini or penne pasta, crisp colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, and savory smoked turkey bacon. Perfect for picnics, light dinners, or quick lunches, it features a tangy apple cider vinegar dressing with natural ingredients, delivering a protein-packed and flavorful salad that is easy to prepare and visually appealing.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Protein

2 cups rotini or penne pasta
6 slices smoked turkey bacon

Vegetables and Herbs

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium cucumber, diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp fresh basil, roughly chopped
2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Dressing

3 tbsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
4 tbsp olive oil (natural)
1 tsp Dijon mustard (natural)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (natural)
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the rotini or penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta completely, ensuring a firm texture perfect for the salad.
Prepare the Veggies and Herbs: While the pasta cools, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion. Roughly chop the fresh basil and parsley to release their aromatic flavors.
Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the smoked turkey bacon slices until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar (natural), olive oil (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined, forming a tangy and balanced dressing.
Toss Everything Together: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, and smoked turkey bacon pieces. Pour the dressing over and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Notes

Use pasta with ridges or twists as they hold the dressing and vegetables better.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Chop vegetables uniformly for even texture and enhanced presentation.
Ensure the turkey bacon is toasted well to add a crunchy contrast to the fresh vegetables.
Adjust the acidity of the dressing by adding more apple cider vinegar (natural) if desired.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: Summer Pasta Salad, pasta salad, smoked turkey bacon, fresh vegetables, healthy salad, picnic salad, quick lunch, easy summer recipe