Creamy Pasta Salad a Pot Luck Favorite

If you haven't tried Creamy Pasta Salad you are in for a treat! Creamy Pasta Salad is loaded with our favorite ingredients, bacon, green onions, cheese and of course pasta in a delicious creamy sauce. I suppose that's why we call it Creamy Pasta Salad! haha

This super simple recipe is a standard recipe at family pot luck socials or even a weekend BBQ in the backyard. Tried, Tested and True even those little ones can help make this salad, with a little help of course.

When we BBQ we enjoy only the best and our favorite recipes, we have so many that it's fun to make small batches so we can enjoy them all. That's why this small recipe is ideal using only 8oz of pasta. You can of course use any shape of pasta you wish, we prefer the double curl in these Cellentani Pasta.

With a recipe as easy as this one you can cook the pasta on the Stove, but let me tell you that cooking pasta in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker is so much better! The pasta can be infused with flavor and absorb the liquid when cooked with the Instant Pot which I love.

That's why I love to cook with Chicken Broth. All that yummy broth is absorbed into the noodles for extra flavor which really sets it apart from other pasta recipes.

Of course there are variations to making a Creamy Pasta Salad which is also fun. This recipe reminds me of a Loaded Potato Salad, which is another favorite of ours and also very simple to make too. Really you can't go wrong on either of these recipes.

Ingredients for Creamy Pasta Salad

8oz Cellentani Pasta
2 ½ Cups Chicken Broth
6 Slices Cooked Bacon
1 Bunch Green Onions
Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
⅓ Cup Mayonnaise
⅓ Cup Sour Cream
1 Tbs Dijon Mustard
1 Tbs Seasoned Salt

How to Make Creamy Pasta Salad

Place Chicken Broth in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker and add Pasta
Set Instant Pot to Manual/Pressure Cook for 4 minutes with a 4 minute Natural Pressure Release
Remove Pasta and rinse under cold water. Drain and place in bowl. Set aside.
In a separate bowl combine Mayonnaise, Sour Cream, Dijon Mustard, and Season Salt and mix to combine.
Dice Green Onions and toss with pasta
Slice cooked bacon into pieces and toss with pasta
Add Mayonnaise mixture and stir to combine
Mix in grated Cheddar Cheese leaving some for garnish on top.
Keep cold until ready to serve.

This recipe could easily be considered a basic or easy Instant Pot Recipe as it's very simple. I love the convenience of how quick it is to make Creamy Pasta Salad.

Don't be confused by a Classic Macaroni Salad which is also delish and easy to make. This recipe is a fun change to the classic and loaded with bacon, green onions, and cheddar cheese. But you can't go wrong with either recipe.

I'm often asked about why I like to cook with my Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker. The answer is really simple. It saves me time! Let me explain.

Not all recipes are made in less cooking or processing time. But what it does allow me is to multitask while ingredients are cooking. I'm no longer stuck stirring a pot on the stove or having a boil over to clean up. I can do laundry, set the table, clean up dirty dishes or read a book to a child.

Multitasking saves me time after time and I love it. I've got more great Instant Pot FAQ's and fun facts on my How To Instant Pot post. Make sure to check it out!

Can I make Creamy Pasta Salad ahead of time?

Yes you can. Before Serving make sure to give the pasta a good stir to help combine flavors.

Can I freeze Creamy Pasta Salad

I would not recommend freezing Pasta Salad. The dairy products don't tend to freeze well.

Which Brand of Mayo is Best?

Funny you should ask! I recently asked more than 1,000 people which brand Mayo is best. The results were eye opening. The vast majority said Duke's was the best with Best Foods or Hellmanns coming in second.

Make sure to choose the brand you like best.

Can I Substitute Water for Chicken Broth?

Of course you can! However, keep in mind that the Chicken Broth adds a lot of flavor to the pasta. You will want to add some additional salt when cooking pasta or even use Vegetable Broth is a good alternative.

Favorite Pot Luck Salad Recipes

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