Broccoli Pasta Salad
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyThis Broccoli Pasta Salad is an easy side dish made with tender pasta, fresh broccoli and cauliflower, crispy bacon, golden raisins, and sunflower seeds. A creamy homemade dressing brings everything together for a flavorful potluck recipe that is perfect for summer cookouts, picnics, and family gatherings.
There are certain recipes that just seem to belong on a summer table, and a creamy broccoli salad is definitely one of them. It’s crunchy, sweet, savory, and always one of the first bowls I go back to for seconds. Add a little pasta to the mix, and suddenly it becomes even more satisfying.
This Broccoli Pasta Salad has all those familiar flavors everyone loves. It’s easy to make, easy to bring along, and perfect for cookouts, picnics, potlucks, or any day when you need a really good side dish without a lot of fuss.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s two favorite salads in one. This broccoli pasta salad combines everything you love about classic broccoli salad with the heartiness of pasta salad. It feels familiar, but the addition of pasta makes it a little more substantial and fun.
- The mix of flavors and textures is so good. Crisp broccoli and cauliflower, smoky bacon, sweet golden raisins, crunchy sunflower seeds, and tender pasta all come together in one bowl. The creamy, slightly tangy dressing ties everything together without making the salad feel overly complicated.
- It’s made with simple ingredients. There is nothing fussy or difficult to find here. Most of the ingredients are everyday staples, and the entire salad comes together with just a little chopping, cooking, and mixing.
- It’s a crowd-pleasing side dish. Bring it to a potluck, picnic, family reunion, or backyard barbecue and watch it disappear. It pairs well with everything from burgers and grilled chicken to sandwiches and other picnic favorites.
Looking for more delicious pasta salad recipes? You’ve got it! I have an entire collection of pasta salads here on Inspired by Charm that I know you’re going to love. There’s a unique recipe for every potluck, party, and celebration!
Ingredients
It’s time to get together all of the ingredients you’ll need to make this pasta salad. Let’s get into the list.
- Mayonnaise – This creates the rich, creamy base for the dressing and helps coat every bite of the salad.
- Milk – A small amount of milk thins the mayonnaise and gives the dressing a smoother, lighter consistency.
- Apple cider vinegar – This adds a gentle tang that balances the richness of the mayonnaise and bacon.
- Granulated sugar – Just a little sugar brings out the sweetness of the raisins and softens the acidity of the vinegar.
- Salt – Salt helps bring all the flavors in the dressing and salad together.
- Black pepper – A bit of black pepper adds mild warmth and extra flavor to the creamy dressing.
- Radiatore pasta – The ruffled shape holds onto the creamy dressing beautifully, but rotini, bow tie, or another small pasta can also be used.
- Bacon – Crisp, crumbled bacon adds smoky, salty flavor and makes this pasta salad especially satisfying.
- Broccoli florets – Fresh broccoli adds plenty of crunch and gives the salad its classic broccoli salad flavor.
- Cauliflower florets – Cauliflower adds another layer of crisp texture and pairs naturally with the broccoli.
- Red onion – Finely chopped red onion gives the salad a little bite and a nice pop of color.
- Golden raisins – These add small bursts of sweetness that balance the savory bacon and tangy dressing.
- Sunflower seeds – Sunflower seeds bring a nutty flavor and a welcome bit of crunch to every serving.
How To Make
I’m going to show you how to make this Broccoli Pasta Salad. I’ll take you through the steps below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. Cover and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse it under cold water until cooled. Allow the pasta to drain thoroughly.
- While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool enough to handle, crumble it into small pieces.
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- Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, golden raisins, and sunflower seeds to a large bowl. Gently stir to combine.
- Pour the chilled dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Give the salad another gentle stir just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep the pasta from becoming too soft?
Cook the pasta just until al dente, following the lower end of the package’s suggested cooking time. Rinsing it with cold water stops the cooking process, but make sure it drains thoroughly before adding it to the salad.
Why does the salad seem drier after chilling?
The pasta will continue to absorb some of the dressing as it rests in the refrigerator. Before serving, give the salad a good stir and add a small splash of milk or an extra spoonful of mayonnaise if it needs loosening.
How long will Broccoli Pasta Salad keep?
Store the salad in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to three days. It is best within the first day or two, while the vegetables and sunflower seeds still have plenty of crunch. Do not leave the salad sitting at room temperature for more than two hours, or more than one hour on a very hot day.
More Unique Pasta Salads You’ll Love
- Tortellini Antipasto Pasta Salad
- Farmers Market Pasta Salad
- Italian Sub Pasta Salad
- Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad
- Pine Nut and Arugula Pesto Salad
And that’s a wrap on this Broccoli Pasta Salad. If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think. Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. I’d appreciate it!
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Broccoli Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 1½ cups dry radiatore pasta about 5 ounces
- 8 slices bacon
- 2 cups small fresh broccoli florets
- 1 cup small fresh cauliflower florets
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- 3 tablespoons sunflower seeds
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined. Cover and refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse it under cold water until cooled. Allow the pasta to drain thoroughly.
- While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool enough to handle, crumble it into small pieces.
- Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, golden raisins, and sunflower seeds to a large bowl. Gently stir to combine.
- Pour the chilled dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Give the salad another gentle stir just before serving.