• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The MacPherson Diaries
  • Home
  • Food
  • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • Family
  • About
  • Contact Me

Pasta Salad with Creamy Bacon & Pesto

April 28, 2021 by themacphersondiaries

Jump to Recipe

I love a salad that gets people excited when it hits the table, and this combo is sure to do that! Countdown sent me a mystery box and challenged me to create a show-stopping recipe, and this dish is the result!

To make the salad, the bacon is cooked with garlic, onion & a dash or 3 of cream, then it is layered with pasta, corn, cheese, pesto & sundried tomatoes. It has a lovely layered, effect, and when you serve you dig to the bottom and mix everything together well. Bacon-y, cheesy, pesto-y pasta goodness!

It would be perfect for a lunch with lots of people or a pot luck dinner, you’d be the favourite guest! But we also just loved it for dinner at home. Delish.

Print

Pasta Salad with Creamy Bacon & Pesto

Ingredients

  • 300 grams Countdown Grated Tasty Cheese
  • ½ cup Countdown Cream
  • 2 tablespoons Countdown Frozen Diced Onions
  • 2 x 100 grams Countdown Pesto
  • 500 grams Countdown Honey Cured Bacon sliced into 1 cm slices
  • 500 grams Countdown Pasta Spirals
  • 500 grams Countdown Sundried tomato halves sliced
  • 2 teaspoons Countdown Olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Countdown Minced garlic
  • 10 grams Countdown Butter
  • 2 cups of Countdown Frozen Corn
  • 2 sprigs of Basil

Instructions

  1. Take a pan over a medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of olive oil, once it has come to temperature, add the onions and butter. Cook for 3 minutes, until translucent, then add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring so it does not burn.
  2. Add the bacon, stirring occasionally, for around 6 minutes until cooked.
  3. At this point you may have to drain some of the fat from the pan.
  4. Then place back on a medium heat and add your cream. Cook and stir for around 3 minutes until reduced a little. Take this mix and place in your serving bowl and refrigerate for 15 mins to cool the bacon mix (not too long in the fridge or the cream and bacon will solidify).
  5. Cook pasta as per packet instructions. Once cooked, run under cold water & drain. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil over the pasta, (so it doesn’t stick) mix and set aside.
  6. Cook corn in a pot of boiling water until cooked through, around 2 minutes. Rinse under cold water, drain and set aside
  7. To assemble: on top of your bacon mix, place the cold pasta, then the corn, then a layer of the pesto. I use the back of a spoon to smooth the pesto on top. Now finish with the sundried tomatoes and add some basil leaves for garnish.
  8. Serve.

Recipe Notes

I love using a glass trifle bowl like this so you can see the layers.

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: bacon, food blog, pasta salad, pesto pasta salad, salad

Previous Post: « Creamy Garlic Chicken
Next Post: Butter Chicken Pies »

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jana!

Hi, I’m Jana. I live in gorgeous Arrowtown with my 2 children, Hunter (6) and River (4), Husband Hamish, and a dog & a cat for good measure.

I love cooking and sharing recipes here with you. I am a home cook and enjoy making all sorts of dishes, as long as they are simple & delicious!

Here on the blog you will find recipes such as One Pan Coconut Chicken, Whole Orange Cake with White Chocolate Icing & Eggs Shakshuka.

When I am not in the kitchen or playing with my children by the local river, I can be found trekking the gorgeous walks on our doorstep, or sampling some of the incredible local wines.

Xx Jana Read More…

Subscribe now


Recent Posts

  • Pork Meatballs with Cheesy Polenta
  • Beef Satay – Slow/Pressure Cooker Version
  • Pub Style Mussels & Chips
  • Quick Pan Fried Gurnard w/ Vietnamese Dressing
  • Caramel Chilli Chicken

Recent Comments

  • themacphersondiaries on Baked Chicken with Balsamic Glaze
  • Jodi on Baked Chicken with Balsamic Glaze
  • themacphersondiaries on Crispy Prawn Bao Buns
  • Paolo Sienna on Crispy Prawn Bao Buns
  • themacphersondiaries on One Pot Chicken & Coconut Rice

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017

Categories

  • Family
  • Food
  • Homemade Gift Ideas
  • Janas Dinner Club
  • Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2022 The MacPherson Diaries on the Foodie Pro Theme