Turkey Bacon Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing
Brighten up your mealtime with this irresistible Turkey Bacon Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing! Bursting with vibrant flavors and textures, this refreshing salad combines al dente rotini pasta, crispy turkey bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and zesty red onion. The star of the dish is the homemade lemon basil dressing—a fragrant blend of fresh basil, tangy lemon juice, and a hint of honey and Dijon mustard—that perfectly ties everything together. Finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, this easy-to-make pasta salad is ideal for meal prep, picnics, or a light, flavorful lunch. Ready in just 35 minutes and packed with wholesome ingredients, it’s a versatile crowd-pleaser that’s sure to impress.
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Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 8 slices turkey bacon
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 0.5 red onion
- 0.5 cups fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cups olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 cups Parmesan cheese
Directions
Step 1
Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Step 2
While the pasta cooks, slice the turkey bacon into bite-sized pieces and cook in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 3
Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion. Set the vegetables aside.
Step 4
Prepare the lemon basil dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic clove, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.
Step 5
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
Step 6
Pour the lemon basil dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly.
Step 7
Garnish the salad with Parmesan cheese and extra fresh basil, if desired.
Step 8
Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours to let the flavors meld together. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (1048.3g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 2413.0 |
| Total Fat 94.0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 19.4g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 11.4g | |
| Cholesterol 156.9mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3256.1mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 308.1g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 17.7g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 46.2g | |
| Protein 81.8g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 42.2IU | 0% |
| Calcium 583.2mg | 0% |
| Iron 16.4mg | 0% |
| Potassium 2366.3mg | 0% |
Source of Calories