Avocado Pasta Salad (with Video)
A hearty and flavorful pasta salad made with avocado buttermilk dressing…and bacon! It’s a new favorite dish in our family!
Bacon Avocado Pasta Salad
Instead of a traditional mayonnaise-based dressing, we made our own creamy avocado buttermilk dressing. Blended with lime juice, garlic, and herbs, this is a rich and flavorful sauce that also packs a nutritious punch!
Even if your kids are not fans of avocado, they will love this dish! That’s because the avocados blend into the sauce, adding flavor and creaminess that is hard to get even from mayonnaise! Plus, they’re getting all the healthy benefits of avocados!
This avocado pasta salad also makes a fabulous dish to take to potlucks and cookouts. It pairs perfectly with barbecue, burgers, you name it! And it’s something new and unexpected on the party table!
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon, cooked
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 8 oz pasta, cooked and cooled
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 avocado, diced
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 lime, juiced (approximately 1 Tablespoon)
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
TIP: Toss the chopped avocado in lime juice to prevent browning.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
Instructions
Toss the avocado with lime juice to prevent browning.
Puree all dressing ingredients in a food processor, until smooth and creamy.
Chill the dressing in the fridge while you prepare the pasta.
Cook bacon to preferred level of doneness.
Cook pasta according to directions and strain — but don’t rinse. Allow to cool to room temperature.
TIP: To keep your pasta salad from getting too soft, cook your pasta al dente.
Add pasta to a large bowl with the dressing and crumbled bacon. Toss until all pasta is fully coated in sauce and the bacon is evenly distributed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Keep Pasta Salad From Getting Soggy?
The most important thing to do when preparing pasta salad is to cook your pasta al dente. With pasta salad, the noodles will soak up some of the sauce and become softer over time. If the pasta is overcooked to start with, the noodles will become too soft too fast.
How Long Does Pasta Salad Stay Good in the Refrigerator?
Any leftover pasta salad should be kept refrigerated, in a sealed airtight container. It can stay good for 3-4 days when properly stored. In fact, the flavors develop over time!
This is a great recipe to make ahead of time, because it can be kept in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Pin this Avocado Macaroni Salad on Pinterest:
More Fun Recipes with Hidden Avocados
Avocado Pasta Salad Recipe (Printable Copy)
Avocado Pasta Salad with Bacon
A hearty and flavorful pasta salad made with avocado buttermilk dressing...and bacon! The perfect pasta side dish for BBQs, lunch boxes or easy summer lunches.
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon, cooked
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 8 oz pasta, cooked and cooled
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 avocado, diced
Avocado Salad Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 lime, juiced (approximately 1 Tablespoon)
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Puree all dressing ingredients together and chill.
- Toss chopped avocado with lime juice to prevent browning.
- Cook bacon to preferred level of doneness.
- Cook pasta according to directions and strain *don't rinse.
- Combine all pasta salad ingredients, then dress as desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 529mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 8gSugar: 3gProtein: 14g
You might also like:
