Description
Ditalini Pasta Salad is a quick, vibrant, and nutritious meal packed with fresh veggies, smoky turkey bacon, and fiber-rich pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, this versatile salad offers a satisfying crunch and flavorful dressing, making it perfect for lunch, dinner, or snacks on busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 1 cup ditalini pasta
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 small cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (natural)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ditalini pasta until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the pasta firm.
- Prepare the turkey bacon: While the pasta cooks, crisp up the smoked turkey bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Once browned and crunchy, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess fat, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Chop the vegetables: Dice the cucumbers and red bell peppers, halve the cherry tomatoes, finely chop the red onion, and roughly chop the fresh parsley so that each ingredient is ready to mix in evenly.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar (natural), extra virgin olive oil (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and freshly ground black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
- Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled ditalini pasta, vegetables, turkey bacon, and parsley. Pour the dressing over and toss gently until every bite is coated and bursting with flavor.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld beautifully. Give it a quick toss before plating and enjoy the freshness.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente to maintain the perfect texture in the salad.
- Chill pasta before mixing to prevent it from absorbing too much dressing and becoming mushy.
- Dice vegetables uniformly for consistent texture and pleasant bites.
- Use quality extra virgin olive oil (natural) for enhanced dressing taste and smoothness.
- Refrigerate to let all flavors come together for the best taste experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Ditalini pasta salad, pasta salad, quick meal, healthy salad, turkey bacon salad, vegetarian option, plant-based dressing
