Meat Lover's Pasta Salad

Name: Meat Lover's Pasta Salad
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 oz. bacon strips, uncooked; ½ lb. dry rotini pasta; 6 oz. diced pepperoni; 6 oz. diced salami; 1 cup sweet corn; ½ cup diced onion; 8 oz. halved cherry tomatoes; 2 oz. shaved Parmesan cheese; ½ cup olive oil; 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar; 1 Tbsp. lemon juice; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp. dry basil; ½ tsp. dry oregano; ¼ tsp. dry thyme; 1 tsp. sugar; Salt and black pepper to taste

Recipe GLPRc5e0fa81abd4b8

Salad

25 min

445 cal

Servings: 8

Oven

SNAP eligible

A hearty pasta salad loaded with crispy bacon, pepperoni, and salami, tossed with fresh vegetables and a tangy herb dressing. Perfect as a main course or side dish, this crowd-pleasing salad combines sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and creamy Parmesan cheese for a satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

8 oz. bacon strips, uncooked

½ lb. dry rotini pasta

6 oz. diced pepperoni

6 oz. diced salami

1 cup sweet corn

½ cup diced onion

8 oz. halved cherry tomatoes

2 oz. shaved Parmesan cheese

½ cup olive oil

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp. dry basil

½ tsp. dry oregano

¼ tsp. dry thyme

1 tsp. sugar

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Arrange bacon strips on a baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes until crispy. Once cooked, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and allow to cool slightly, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
While bacon is cooking, prepare the dressing by adding the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, and sugar to a blender. Pulse several times until well combined, then set aside.
Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and spread on a clean plate or baking sheet to cool completely.
Dice the pepperoni and salami into small cubes. Finely chop the onion and halve the cherry tomatoes, setting them aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon pieces, diced pepperoni, diced salami, sweet corn, diced onion, and halved tomatoes. Toss gently to mix.
Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste and mix well.
Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Carefully fold in the shaved Parmesan cheese, being gentle to avoid breaking the delicate curls.
Cover the salad and refrigerate until ready to serve. The pasta salad can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, and also tastes delicious served warm immediately after preparation.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.25

This is a straightforward crowd-pleaser at roughly $2–$2.50 per serving, driven mainly by bacon and deli meats. All ingredients are standard at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, and Walmart—no special stops needed. The 25-minute claim is honest if the bacon is already cooked and you use a food processor; boiling pasta and chopping take the bulk of that time. It reheats adequately for leftovers, making it ideal for a casual weeknight family meal or next-day lunch box, though the fresh basil will lose its brightness.