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High Protein Garlic Butter Bacon Pasta Salad – A Creamy, Satisfying Twist

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz (225 g) high-protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or protein-enriched wheat pasta)
  • 6 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded (rotisserie works great)
  • 1 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise (for extra creaminess; optional but recommended)
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, plus zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup peas or shelled edamame, thawed if frozen
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste

Method
 

  1. Cook the pasta: Boil in well-salted water until just al dente. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water to stop cooking. Toss with a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  2. Crisp the bacon: Cook diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat until deeply crisp. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Make the garlic butter: Add butter to the skillet with the bacon fat. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant, not browned. Remove from heat. Stir in smoked paprika if using.
  4. Build the creamy base: In a large bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the warm garlic butter until smooth and glossy.
  5. Add the mix-ins: Fold in Parmesan, chicken, peas or edamame, tomatoes, and red onion.
  6. Toss with pasta: Add the cooled pasta and most of the bacon. Toss gently until everything is coated. Adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
  7. Finish and chill: Fold in parsley. Top with the remaining bacon for crunch. Chill 30–60 minutes if you like it cold, or serve slightly warm right away.