Not Your Usual Pasta Salad Recipe

Not Your Usual Pasta Salad Recipe

  • 1 (16 ounce) package seashell pasta
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1 cup creamy salad dressing (such as Miracle Whip®)
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 red onion, finely diced
  • 1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and drained
  • 4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup diced sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook shell pasta at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on paper towels; crumble.
  3. Whisk creamy salad dressing, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, and oregano together in a bowl to make a creamy dressing.
  4. Mix pasta, bacon, red onion, water chestnuts, eggs, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, celery, olives, Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese together in a large bowl. Add dressing and stir to coat. Chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour before serving.