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    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Salads

    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

    August 1, 2017 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated May 4, 2020 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing Pinterest Pin B

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

    Yummy Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing garnished with cherry tomatoes

    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!

    Two bowls of Yummy Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

    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.

    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing ingredients

    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.

    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing showing cooked pasta

    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.

    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing showing ingredients for pasta

    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.

    Two bowls ofPasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

    Store the pasta salad covered in the refrigerator.

    If you make this recipe, please be sure to rate it and leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

    Also, please follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. And finally, to be the first to receive notifications of new posts by email enter your email address here or in the Subscribe box.

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

     

    Two bowls ofPasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

    Pasta Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

    Sharon Rigsby
    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.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Lunch, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 288 kcal

    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
    • ½ cup crumbled goat cheese
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil

    Green Goddess Dressing Ingredients:

    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup sour cream
    • ¼ cup buttermilk
    • 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
    • 1 garlic clove minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ cup fresh basil
    • ½ cup fresh parsley
    • 1 scallion white and green parts, thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • Kosher salt and pepper to taste
    • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped

    Instructions
     

    Pasta Salad Directions:

    • 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.

    Green Goddess Dressing Directions

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

    Assembly

    • 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.

    Notes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 10gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 748mgPotassium: 442mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2350IUVitamin C: 38.8mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 2.3mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Iryna

      August 07, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      This pasta makes me hungry! I would totally have it for dinner!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        August 08, 2017 at 4:39 pm

        Thanks Lryna! It is great for a light dinner!

        Reply
    2. Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen

      August 06, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      I love fresh tomatoes with pasta – the green goddess dressing sounds like a great addition!

      Reply
    3. Mark, CompassandFork

      August 02, 2017 at 7:52 am

      I love the green goddess dressing. Look at all of that flavor in there. It gives some real attitude to the dish. A very nice job.

      Reply

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and I like nothing better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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