Zesty Bowtie Pasta Salad with Avocado and Bacon

Ingredients

- 8 ounces bowtie pasta
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 English cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup salsa verde
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta:
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add a generous pinch of salt and the bowtie pasta to the boiling water.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, approximately PT8M (8 minutes), until al dente.
- Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.

2. Prepare the Dressing:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the salsa verde, mayonnaise, and lime juice.
- Stir until the mixture is smooth and well-blended. Set aside.

3. Combine Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, diced cucumber, and chopped red onion.
- Add the crumbled bacon and diced avocado.

4. Dress the Salad:
- Pour the prepared salsa verde dressing over the pasta mixture.
- Gently toss with a large spoon to ensure all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.

5. Season and Serve:
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least PT15M (15 minutes) to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Total Time

PT30M
30 minutes

Type of Dish

Lunch

Keywords

Pasta Salad, Avocado, Bacon, Bowtie Pasta, Salsa Verde, Summer Lunch, Quick Lunch, Easy Recipe, Fresh Ingredients, No-Bake Lunch

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1,480

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