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Blue Cheese Pasta Salad is a delicious dish that combines the flavors of blue cheese, avocado, bacon, and cherry tomatoes in a zesty dressing. This salad is perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or as a side dish for grilled meats. With its blend of bold flavors, you'll love this pasta salad.
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Check out my BLT Chicken Salad and my Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs for more delicious recipes!
Blue cheese pasta salad is made by combining cooked rotini pasta with a creamy dressing made with mayonnaise, buttermilk, and sour cream. The salad is chilled in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld together.
This dish is perfect for summer cookouts or as a side dish for any occasion. The creamy texture of the dressing combined with the bold flavors of the blue cheese and savory bacon make this pasta salad a crowd pleaser.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Bold and unique flavors. The combination of tangy blue cheese, creamy avocado, savory bacon, and fresh cherry tomatoes with a zesty dressing creates a delicious and unique flavor profile.
- Versatile dish. This dish can be served as a side dish or a main course, making it a versatile option for any occasion.
- Easy to make. This recipe is simple and easy to follow, making it a great option for busy weeknights or when you need to prepare a dish in advance.
- Protein-packed. The addition of hard-boiled eggs and bacon provides a good source of protein.
- Perfect for gatherings. This blue cheese pasta salad is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and gatherings, as it can easily feed a crowd and can be made in advance.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Rotini Pasta: Perfect for salads as its grooves can hold the dressing well.
- Mayonnaise: Used to create a creamy dressing that coats the pasta and other ingredients.
- Buttermilk: Used to add a tangy flavor to the dressing and to thin it out to the desired consistency.
- Sour Cream: Used to add creaminess and tang to the dressing.
- Dried Dill: Used to add a subtle herb flavor to the dressing.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder is used to add a savory flavor.
- Salt: Used to enhance the flavor.
- Onion Powder: Used to add a sweet flavor.
- Red Wine Vinegar: Used to add a tangy and slightly sweet flavor.
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: Added to the salad to provide a good source of protein and to add texture.
- Avocado: Added to the salad to provide a creamy texture and to add healthy fats.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Added to the salad to provide a sweet and juicy burst of flavor and to add color.
- Cooked Bacon: Added to the salad to provide a savory and smoky flavor and to add texture.
- Blue Cheese: The star ingredient of this salad, providing a tangy and bold flavor that pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1:
Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until it is al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Step 2:
Add mayo, buttermilk, sour cream, dill, garlic powder, salt, onion powder and red wine vinegar to a mason jar. Seal jar and shake until combined.
Step 3:
Toss pasta with dressing. Add remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- Cook the pasta al dente. To be sure that the pasta retains its shape and texture in the salad, cook it until it is just tender, but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Rinse the pasta under cold water. After cooking the pasta, rinse it under cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking together.
- Use a good quality blue cheese. The flavor of the blue cheese is a key component of this salad, so be sure to use a good quality cheese that has a bold and tangy flavor.
- Chill the salad before serving. To allow the flavors to blend together and to be sure that the salad is cold, chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
- Adjust the dressing to taste. The dressing should be creamy and flavorful, but not too overpowering. Taste the dressing as you make it and adjust the seasoning and consistency to your liking.
Variations
- Grilled chicken: Add grilled chicken to make it a protein-packed meal.
- Different cheese: If you're not a fan of blue cheese, you can substitute it with feta or goat cheese.
- Different pasta: Use a different type of pasta like penne, fusilli or macaroni instead of rotini.
- Add some greens: To make the salad healthier, add some greens like arugula, spinach, or kale.
- Mediterranean twist: Replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt and add some Kalamata olives and cucumbers to the salad to give it a Mediterranean twist.
- Creamy avocado dressing: Blend avocado, lime juice, garlic, and a little water in a food processor to make a creamy avocado dressing instead of using mayonnaise and sour cream.
Storing
Leftover blue cheese pasta salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time. In fact, it's even better when made a few hours or up to a day in advance to allow the flavors to meld together.
Unfortunately, blue cheese pasta salad doesn't freeze well. The dressing can become watery and the ingredients can become mushy after being frozen and thawed.
More Pasta Recipes You'll Love
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Blue Cheese Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 6 tablespoons buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 2 hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1 avocado diced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 slices cooked bacon drained and chopped
- 4 ounces blue cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until it is aldente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cookingprocess.
- Add mayo, buttermilk, sour cream, dill, garlic powder, salt, onion powder and red wine vinegar to a mason jar. Seal jar and shake until combined.
- Toss pasta with dressing. Add remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Cook the pasta al dente. To be sure that the pasta retains its shape and texture in the salad, cook it until it is just tender, but still slightly firm to the bite.
- Rinse the pasta under cold water. After cooking the pasta, rinse it under cold water to cool it down and prevent it from sticking together.
- Use a good quality blue cheese. The flavor of the blue cheese is a key component of this salad, so be sure to use a good quality cheese that has a bold and tangy flavor.
- Chill the salad before serving. To allow the flavors to blend together and to be sure that the salad is cold, chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
- Adjust the dressing to taste. The dressing should be creamy and flavorful, but not too overpowering. Taste the dressing as you make it and adjust the seasoning and consistency to your liking.
- Storing: Leftover blue cheese pasta salad should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to give it a good stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Enjoy!
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