Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is so flavorful and always a winner to serve as an appetizer or light dinner

An Appetizer does not have to be small canapes or really complicated to taste amazing without spoiling your guests’ appetites.

This Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is just perfect. And it can be served as a light dinner as well !

With the great weather we have in South-Africa we mostly have light dinners, especially during Spring and Summer. Even Fall is quite warm and this salad is always welcome.

During Winter it is actually the only time our family really digs into comforting, rich foods or a huge home cooked meal.

This is now with meat, starch (we even serve potatoes and rice together on the odd occasion!), as well as at least two vegetables.

Great for an Al Fresco addition !

I do however prefer lighter foods as it is usually (not always!) healthier and so much quicker to make. But, then again, warmer weather calls for al fresco-style eating !

Al fresco is eating outside (for us, always) and we normally start somewhere just after lunch time, all gathered around the pool.

Obviously mostly over weekends though. It is slow eating, starting with an appetizer, a little later a more substantial meal and of course dessert.

This is the type of eating (al fresco) which I think takes a little longer to prepare the courses than when serving a simple light dinner during the week.

Whichever way, appetizer or light dinner, you choose to serve this Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad, it will most definitely become a family favorite !

And it all comes down to a great combination of ingredients which already works so well together.

Add the Blue Cheese Dressing and you are in for a taste sensation, which might be unexpected by your guests, but will surely be an awesome surprise to them.

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You might also like these Pasta Salads :

• Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad
• Shrimp Avocado Pasta Salad
• Bacon and Egg Pasta Salad

Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad With Blue Cheese Dressing

Linda Nortje

Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is so flavorful and always a winner to serve as an appetizer or light dinner

4.84 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Salad

Cuisine South-African

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 475.7 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 250 g Penne Pasta 8 oz
• 2 t Olive Oil
• 1 t Fresh Garlic crushed
• 125 g Bacon Bits 4 oz
• 1 cup White Sauce warm (store-bought or homemade)
• ½ cup Blue Cheese crumbled
• 2 t Mayonnaise
• Salt and Black Pepper to taste
• 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
• 1 cup Basil Leaves torn

Instructions

 

• 1.) Cook the Pasta until al dente, drain and keep aside
• 2.) Heat the Olive Oil and cook the Garlic and Bacon until the Bacon is crispy - remove and keep aside
• 3.) Add the Blue Cheese and Mayonnaise to the warm White Sauce and stir until the Cheese has melted - stir in the cooked Bacon - season to taste with Salt and Black Pepper
• 4.) Toss together the cooked Pasta and the Blue Cheese Sauce in a large mixing bowl
• 5.) Add the Cherry Tomatoes and Basil - gently stir through

Notes

• Serve the Pasta Salad at room temperature or chill until ready to serve
• Recipe Yields: 4 Light Dinner Servings OR 6 - 8 Appetizer Servings

Nutrition Facts

Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad With Blue Cheese Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

475.7

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

19.9

g

31

%

Saturated Fat

 

7.8

g

49

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

12.9

g

Cholesterol

 

30.3

mg

10

%

Sodium

 

821.7

mg

36

%

Carbohydrates

 

54.3

g

18

%

Fiber

 

2.9

g

12

%

Sugar

 

1.4

g

2

%

Protein

 

20.3

g

41

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please also check your ingredient labels.

LINDA

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