This Broccoli Cauliflower Pasta Salad is an easy pasta salad recipe made with bowtie pasta, crisp broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon pieces, mozzarella cheese, and a creamy homemade dressing. It’s the perfect cold side dish to enjoy with grilled meats.
I love serving this pasta side salad for summer BBQs, potlucks, cookouts, family dinners, and holiday gatherings. Since it can be made ahead of time and chilled before serving, it’s also perfect for meal prep or easy weekday lunches.
You can check more pasta side salad recipes here!
How to Make Broccoli Cauliflower Pasta Salad
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Chop the vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
2. Add the noodles to a large pot of boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain into a colander and rinse with cold water until chilled.
3. While the noodles are cooking, mix together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
4. Add the cooled noodles to the bowl and toss well to coat.
5. Stir in the broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon pieces, and mozzarella cheese. Gently toss until combined.
6. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.
Serve & Enjoy!
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Large bowl for serving salad
Important Recipe Notes
- Make sure to rinse the cooked pasta with cold water so it cools down quickly and does not become mushy in the salad.
- Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into small bite-sized pieces so they mix evenly with the pasta and are easier to eat.
- For the best flavor, let the pasta salad chill for at least 1 hour before serving so the dressing can soak into the noodles and vegetables.
- If the salad seems dry after chilling, stir in a little extra mayonnaise before serving to freshen it up.
- You can make this pasta salad a day ahead, which makes it perfect for potlucks, parties, and meal prep.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For extra flavor, try adding shredded cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, or diced cherry tomatoes.
Broccoli Cauliflower Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz bowtie pasta noodles
- 3 cups bite size broccoli florets
- 3 cups bite size cauliflower florets
- ½ cup red onion diced
- 2.5 oz bacon pieces
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Chop the vegetables into bite size pieces.
- Add the noodles to a large pot of boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain into a colander and rinse with cold water until chilled.
- While the noodles are cooking, mix together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
- Add the cooled noodles to the bowl and toss well to coat.
- Stir in the broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon pieces, and mozzarella cheese. Gently toss until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.