Description

This vibrant Summer Pasta Salad features a colorful medley of fresh vegetables, crispy smoked turkey bacon, and creamy plant-based cheese, all tossed in a light, tangy dressing made with natural ingredients. Perfect for picnics, light lunches, or as a side dish, this salad is refreshing and packed with flavor to brighten your warm days.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

2 cups rotini pasta
1 cup fresh cherry tomatoes, halved
1 medium cucumber, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
6 slices smoked turkey bacon
1 cup plant-based cheese, cubed
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

Dressing Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil (natural)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
1 tablespoon honey (natural)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (natural)
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it completely.
Prepare the Veggies: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces, and roughly chop the fresh basil leaves. Set aside.
Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a pan over medium heat, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil. Once cool, chop into smaller pieces.
Mix the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil (natural), apple cider vinegar (natural), honey (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), salt, and pepper until smooth and emulsified.
Combine Everything: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, chopped smoked turkey bacon, and plant-based cheese cubes. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature for the best refreshing taste.

Notes

Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushy texture.
Chill the salad before serving to develop flavors and keep it cool.
Use fresh basil leaves just before serving for vibrant aroma.
Adjust dressing acidity or sweetness by adding more apple cider vinegar or honey to taste.
Optional: Add toasted nuts or seeds for extra crunch.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: No-cook
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 15mg

Keywords: Summer pasta salad, fresh veggie salad, plant-based cheese salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, light summer dish