Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli

Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli is a yummy Summer side dish that takes just 10 minutes to prepare. Broccoli, bowtie pasta, and crispy bacon tossed in a tangy mayonnaise dressing.

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Do You Cook The Broccoli?

No, this Ina Garten recipe calls for raw broccoli. The crunchy texture and lively flavor make it a must-try. To achieve the most desirable texture, chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces. When the broccoli sits for a while, the apple cider vinegar in the dressing actually helps break it down so it doesn’t taste as raw.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

Pasta with bacon? You know a recipe is going to work if those two things are in it.

Bowtie Pasta: or any of your favorite noodles. Pasta salads are best served with short pasta, like bowties, elbow macaroni, etc.
Broccoli: pasta salads wouldn’t be complete without broccoli. Its fresh flavor and crisp texture are my favorites.
Green Onions: add a bright, earthy flavor to the dish.
Sunflower Seeds and Cashews: make your pasta salad extra crunchy!
Raisins: add a bit of sweetness to the recipe as well as a chewy texture.
Bacon: makes the Ina Garten recipe taste smoky.
Mayonnaise, Sugar, and Apple Cider Vinegar: this creamy dressing is sweet, tangy, and delicious.

What Type Of Pasta To Use?

This Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli recipe calls for short pasta, bowtie pasta is what I like to use because it soaks up the sauce beautifully and the shape works well with the other ingredients. Not a bowtie fan? You can also try elbow macaroni, penne, rotini, or medium shells!

Recipe Variations

I love this Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli just the way it is but if you’re feeling adventurous feel free to play around with additions!

Add more veggies: You can also add small pieces of cauliflower, carrot, zucchini, pepper, onion, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, etc.
Make it vegetarian: Leave out the bacon!
Lighten it up: Replace the mayo with a lighter, olive oil-based mayo or replace half of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt.
Add cheese: Sprinkle some cheese on top. Feta is great!
Add another protein: You can add a hard-boiled egg, chicken, or ham.

Adding ingredients will bulk up the salad, so you may have to make the extra dressing. Be sure to adjust measurements if necessary.

How To Make Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli?

Cook the pasta. Set it aside.
Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth.
Chill, serve, and enjoy!

What Serve With Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli?

How To Store Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli?

In The Fridge: In a sealed airtight container, keep this Ina Garten Pasta Salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just before serving, toss the salad one more time to combine flavors. You can have leftovers for lunch the next day!
In The Freezer: Since the vegetables are raw, I do not recommend freezing them. It won’t have the same texture after it’s thawed.

Recipe Tips

As with most pasta salads, this gets better and better as it sits! If at all possible, make this a few hours before serving.
Prepare your pasta al dente, cook your bacon until crispy, and chop your broccoli into bite-size pieces to make sure it has the best texture.
If you’re making this more than a day in advance, wait to add the bacon and nuts/seeds until just before serving. They can become soggy in the salad if it sits too long.

FAQ Section

Can Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli Be Made Ahead Of Time?

Making the Ina Garten Pasta Salad with Broccoli ahead of time is a great idea! By letting the Pasta Salad with Broccoli sit for a few minutes, the pasta and broccoli can soak up the dressing’s flavor. Feel free to prepare it a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator.

Is The Broccoli Raw?

Many people were surprised that you could (or would want to) eat raw broccoli. This salad does contain raw broccoli. Broccoli is deliciously crunchy when it is raw, but it has a very different flavor when it is cooked. To give the salad an extra flavor boost, I suggest using roasted broccoli if you prefer your broccoli cooked.

Can I cook pasta the day before for pasta salad?

It is not a good idea to cook the past the day before. By themselves, cooked pasta noodles will begin to clump and stick together if they are not tossed in an oil or dressing.

Should I rinse pasta when making pasta salad?

To prevent the noodles from overcooking and becoming mushy, rinse them with cold water right after they are done cooking.

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