Summer Broccoli Pasta Salad

Summer Broccoli Pasta Salad is a terrific take-along dish with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors including strawberries and bacon.
(Originally published 2/17/17 and updated for content 6/19/24)

If you like this recipe, check out my Spinach Strawberry Salad next!

Summer Broccoli Pasta Salad is probably my favorite broccoli salad recipe. If you’re a fan of pasta salads, you want this one in your collection. It will quickly become a family favorite. This is a cold pasta salad that’s colorful and full of flavor. It might seem unusual to combine fresh broccoli florets with summer strawberries. But the creamy dressing, sweet and tangy flavors work so well together! The bowtie pasta combined with crunchy broccoli and crispy bacon will be a delightful addition to a summer picnic.

More salad recipes

• • Copycat Lou Malnati’s Salad
  • 4 Bean Salad
  • Tuna Nicoise Salad
  • French Salad
  • Orzo Pasta Salad

Ingredients for summer broccoli pasta salad

• Pasta – I love using bowtie pasta for this recipe. But use any shape of pasta that is your favorite. Rotini pasta is another good choice.
• Broccoli – Use 3 cups of raw broccoli cut into small pieces.
• Strawberries – This pasta salad uses 1 1/2 cups of chopped fresh strawberries.
• Red Onion – 1/2 a small red onion provides fresh, sharp flavor.
• Goat Cheese – I love crumbled goat cheese in this salad, but you could use feta cheese instead.
• Bacon – Cooked and crumbled bacon adds good salty flavor to compliment the sweet strawberries and dressing.
• Mayonnaise – Makes a creamy base for the dressing. To cut a few calories you could use Greek yogurt instead.
• Sugar – A little sugar makes a really good sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing for this salad.
• Vinegar – You can use white or red wine vinegar for this dressing.
• Poppy Seeds – Adds a pleasant little crunch to the salad dressing.
• Salt and Pepper
• Variations – Add sunflower seeds or chopped green peppers to your salad. Use pure maple syrup instead of sugar to sweeten the dressing.

Instructions for broccoli pasta salad recipe

Boil the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the water and then rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking. Put the cooked pasta in a big bowl. Toss it with the chopped broccoli and strawberries, crumbled goat cheese and bacon.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, poppy seeds, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and stir everything together until well combined. Keep scrolling for the printable recipe card and full list of ingredients.

Pro tips

Cook your pasta in a large pot of lightly salted water. Then when it is cooked to al dente, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking.

Mix your pasta salad together in a large bowl that has a lid. So it’s ready to store and transport.

Cook and crumble the bacon up to one day in advance of making the pasta salad. I bake my bacon in the oven.

Serving suggestions

This hearty side dish is perfect for a summer party. Take it instead or in addition to a classic Italian pasta salad or potato salad. Make it a main dish by adding some grilled chicken with my Citrus Marinade for Chicken. Here’s some of my other warm weather favorite recipes –

• Perfectly Grilled Pork Chops
• Lemon Pesto Turkey Burgers
• Deviled Strawberries
• Jello Cake Recipe

Storage directions

Store the finished pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad.

Kitchen tools

• Two large salad bowls that include lids with handles – for mixing, storing and transporting your pasta salad
• Sheet pans and parchment paper for baking the bacon in the oven
• My favorite paring knife to chop broccoli and strawberries

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