Description
This Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad is rich in flavor and incredibly easy to prepare. With creamy cheese, crispy bacon, and delightful spices, it’s perfect for a quick meal or a side dish for gatherings. Satisfy your taste buds with this homemade favorite!
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 thoroughly again and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika with 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, then serve.
Notes
This salad can be made a day in advance for enhanced flavors.
Feel free to substitute the bacon with a vegetarian option if desired.
Adjust the amount of Worcestershire sauce to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg