Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad

(13)

Give your pasta salad a fresh, colorful spin.

Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
6 to 8

Easy to assemble and easy to transport, pasta salads instantly take the guesswork out of prepping for crowd-filled occasions like potlucks and picnics. A classic pasta salad recipe is a staple for any Southern host, primarily because cold salads will always fit perfectly for brunch, ladies luncheons, and light summer suppers alike. Give your salad lineup a fresh, colorful spin this season, starting with broccoli-and-grape salad.

If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll really swoon over this version. Fresh broccoli and chopped pecans add glorious crunch to the creamy, farfalle-based pasta salad, while grapes add just a touch of sweetness. Finish it all with some crumbled bacon slices? Now we're in business.

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon

Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

A sweet-yet-tangy dressing lets all the ingredients really shine. Serve this broccoli pasta salad recipe as a spring or summertime side alongside your favorite grilled chicken recipe, or double the batch to share at a potluck or church gathering.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

  • 1 pound fresh broccoli

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 1/3 cup diced red onion

  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 8 ounces bow-tie pasta, cooked (½ of a 16-oz. package)

  • 2 cups seedless red grapes, halved

  • 8 cooked bacon slices, crumbled

Directions

  1. Bake pecans:

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

    pecans toasting on a sheet pan

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  2. Cook pasta:

    Prepare pasta according to package directions.

    cooked bowtie pasta in a colander

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  3. Chop broccoli:

    Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small pieces using tip of a paring knife. Peel away tough outer layer of stems, and finely chop stems.

    chopping broccoli into florets

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  4. Make dressing:

    Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl.

    dressing for broccoli, grape, and pasta salad in a clear bowl

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  5. Combine ingredients:

    Add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat.

    ingredients for broccoli, grape, and pasta salad after mixing

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

  6. Chill pasta salad:

    Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.

    broccoli, grape, and pasta salad with pecans in a clear glass bowl

    Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

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