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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Recipe Information
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
Instructions
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.
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.
Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion. Set the vegetables aside.
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.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, turkey bacon, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
Pour the lemon basil dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly.
Garnish the salad with Parmesan cheese and extra fresh basil, if desired.
Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours to let the flavors meld together. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
247 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 14.2 g | 18% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.1 g | 15% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 16 mg | 5% | |
| Sodium | 391 mg | 17% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24.1 g | 9% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.7 g | 6% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.1 g | ||
| Protein | 8.2 g | 16% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 61 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 232 mg | 5% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
