Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Easy cold Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing is a simple, light summer meal recipe and it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

This easy, creamy pasta salad would also be great for lunch, and it would be awesome for a picnic or even to take to a neighborhood cookout or barbecue.

This yummy pasta salad is loaded with fresh cherry tomatoes, salty bacon, and a surprise ingredient, tangy goat cheese. And, as if that wasn’t enough deliciousness, it’s topped with a flavorful green goddess dressing filled with fresh, pungent basil and parsley.

Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing only takes minutes to prepare and is one of those dishes that is even better the next day. This pasta dish is also versatile, and you could easily add some additional fresh veggies to ramp up the nutritional value.

Or, if you are really short on time, you could substitute purchased prepared ranch or Italian dressing, for the green goddess dressing. Another option would be to add an avocado to the green goddess dressing, which would really send it over the top!

If you like this recipe, you might also like these delicious and easy salad recipes: Summer Garden Pasta Salad, Shrimp Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing, Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salad.

The ingredients for this Pasta Salad are simple and include pasta, olive oil, regular or cherry tomatoes, bacon and fresh basil. The Green Goddess dressing ingredients include mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, anchovy paste, scallions, garlic, basil, parsley, lemon juice, kosher salt, and pepper.

When you are ready to make this delicious Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing, gather your ingredients.

How to make Cold Pasta Salad

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package to the al dente stage and drain.

Cook bacon until brown and crispy and drain. Chop.

Add pasta, tomatoes, goat cheese, basil, and bacon to a large bowl along with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss gently. Set aside.

How to make Green Goddess Dressing

To make the Green Goddess Dressing add all dressing ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

How to assemble Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Add one cup dressing to the pasta salad and toss gently. Reserve the remaining dressing and add if the pasta salad looks dry before serving.

Store the pasta salad covered in the refrigerator.

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Print Recipe

Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing is loaded with fresh cherry tomatoes, salty bacon, and a surprise ingredient, tangy goat cheese. And, if that isn't enough deliciousness, it's topped with a flavorful green goddess dressing filled with fresh, pungent basil and parsley.

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Course

Lunch, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine

American

Keyword

pasta salad

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

10 minutes

Servings

8 servings MetricUS Imperial

Ingredients

Pasta Salad Ingredients:

• 16 ounces uncooked pasta (I used Torcetti, but you can use whatever pasta you like.)
• 2 pints cherry tomatoes sliced or 3 large regular tomatoes cut into cubes
• 8 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 Tbsp anchovy paste
• 1 garlic clove minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1 scallion white and green parts, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

Course Lunch, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish Cuisine American Keyword pasta salad Prep Time 10 minutes Cook Time 10 minutes Servings 8 servings MetricUS Imperial Ingredients Pasta Salad Ingredients: 16 ounces uncooked pasta (I used Torcetti, but you can use whatever pasta you like.) 2 pints cherry tomatoes sliced or 3 large regular tomatoes cut into cubes 8 slices bacon 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese 1 Tbsp olive oil Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup buttermilk 1 Tbsp anchovy paste 1 garlic clove minced or 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 cup fresh basil 1/2 cup fresh parsley 1 scallion white and green parts, thinly sliced 2 Tbsp lemon juice Kosher salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

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Instructions

Pasta Salad Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package to the al dente stage and drain.
2. Cook bacon until brown and crispy and drain. Chop.
3. Add pasta, tomatoes, goat cheese, basil, and bacon to a large bowl along with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss gently. Set aside.

Green Goddess Dressing Directions

1. Add all dressing ingredients to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

Assembly

1. Add one cup dressing to the pasta salad and toss gently. Reserve the remaining dressing and add if the pasta salad looks dry before you serve it. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition Facts

Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 288 Calories from Fat 171

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 19g 29%

Saturated Fat 6g 30%

Trans Fat 0.003g

Polyunsaturated Fat 6g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 29mg 10%

Sodium 748mg 31%

Potassium 442mg 13%

Total Carbohydrates 31g 10%

Dietary Fiber 3g 12%

Sugars 6g

Protein 10g 20%

Vitamin A 47%

Vitamin C 47%

Calcium 7%

Iron 13%

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