Broccoli-Grape Pasta Salad

6 - 8 Servings
3 hr 25 min

Broccoli-Grape Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing recipe for your next potluck or picnic!

This colorful pasta salad is a medley of sweet, tangy, crunchy and salty, thanks to a tangy red vinegar dressing and the addition of toasted pecans and bacon. I reduced the amount of mayonnaise and onion slightly from the original recipe to suit our tastes. You could substitute Greek yogurt for the mayo or use a combination of yogurt and mayonnaise to save on calories and lighten this pasta salad up for summer.

Toasting your pecans brings out the natural oils and flavor and improves the textures, so don’t skip this step!

Add rotisserie chicken from the grocery store deli to this pasta salad for a complete meal.


Note: Cooking time in the recipe below is actually chill time.

Broccoli-Grape Pasta Salad
Recipe details
  • 6 - 8  Servings
  • Prep time: 25 Minutes Cook time: 3 Hours Total time: 3 hr 25 min
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 (16-oz.) package pasta of choice (I used rotini)
  • 1 pound fresh broccoli
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
  • 8 cooked bacon slices, crumbled
Instructions

Place pecans on baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350° oven 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Set aside to cool
Prepare pasta according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, cut broccoli florets from stems, separating florets into small pieces.
In a large bowl add mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar, onion, and salt, whisking to combine. Add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.
Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is
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Comments
  • Nancy K. Nancy K. on Sep 01, 2020

    what's your best suggestion for a substitute for the bacon in this salad? I don't use bacon. Looking forward to trying this recipe.


    • Jan22731183 Jan22731183 on Oct 01, 2020

      I have had luck using salted sunflower seeds as a substitute for bacon

  • Jenny Malorny Defayette Jenny Malorny Defayette on Nov 10, 2020

    Sounds yummy! Cannot wait to make it. Also love your bichons. My 16 1/2 yr old passed crossed to the Rainbow Bridge in Sept. I was just saying how sad I still am & I pull up your recipe & see yours. I feel that was a sign. ❤️

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