By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 6
501 cal · 30 min
Pea Pasta Salad
Recipe GLPR1873fd7a2a781f
A refreshing pasta salad made with tender bowtie pasta, sweet peas, shredded carrots, crispy bacon, and red onion, all tossed together in a creamy vinaigrette. This versatile dish works perfectly as a side for grilled meats or as a light lunch on its own.
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Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) package bowtie pasta
1 cup bacon pieces, cooked and crumbled (about 6 slices)
1 (15 ounce) can peas, drained
2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/8 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
Black pepper, to taste
Directions
Cook the bowtie pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, and black pepper in a small bowl to create the dressing. Set aside.
Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool completely.
Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked bacon pieces, drained peas, shredded carrots, and chopped red onion. Gently toss all ingredients together to combine.
Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Serve immediately while fresh, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Comments
This is a straightforward pasta salad that checks all the practical boxes for a Charlotte weeknight. All ingredients are standard pantry and produce staples at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart with no special stops needed. The stated 30 minutes is honest if you use frozen peas and pre-cooked bacon; fresh peas would add 10 minutes, and cooking bacon from raw adds another 15 if not done ahead. The real cost driver is the bacon and mayo, pushing the per-serving price to around $1.50–$1.75, making it moderate rather than budget-friendly. It reheats adequately for next-day lunch, though the mayo-based dressing can separate slightly. The main limitation is that it's a side or cold lunch dish, not a meal centerpiece for a family dinner without protein added.
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