Bacon Crab Pasta Salad

Bacon Crab Pasta Salad is great as a side dish or a light main dish. And so easy peasy to make!

I am not a huge fan of peas, I will admit. But I truly do not mind them in this Bacon Crab Pasta Salad. And Thing 1 and Thing 2 seem to feel the same, so this recipe is a great way to get veggies into the kids without having to deal with the sour faces and pouty postures.

Yes, even as teenagers, they still raise a fuss over having to eat things they don't like!

I am hopeful that someday that will change, but for the moment the sour faces and pouty posture show up whenever I serve something deemed to be 'yucky'.

(Oh, and what is deemed yucky seems to frequently change without any notice at all.)

I actually wasn't really surprised that Thing 1 liked the Bacon Crab Pasta Salad, but I wasn't too sure how Thing 2 would feel, as he is the pickier of the two.

I confess that he didn't LOVE this, but he ate all of it without complaint, which is huge for him! So this dish is getting a permanent spot in our rotation.

You can shortcut your prep by buying pre-cooked bacon or even the bacon recipe pieces (not artificial bacon bits, but the pieces that are actually real bacon). I confess that I did that.

But the next time I make this, I will probably just cook up some bacon to use in it, because I bet it will taste even better, and it isn't that hard to do.

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📋 Recipe Card

Crab Pasta Salad with Bacon

Recipe Author: Kristin

Great as a side dish or a light main dish. And so easy peasy to make!

4 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Servings 8

Ingredients

 

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• ▢ 8 ounces orzo pasta
• ▢ 6 ounces frozen peas, thawed
• ▢ 8 ounces imitation crab (roughly chopped)
• ▢ ¾ cup chopped cooked bacon
• ▢ ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

 

• Cook the orzo pasta according to the directions on the box. While the pasta is cooking, measure out the peas and leave on the counter so they start to thaw.
  8 ounces orzo pasta, 6 ounces frozen peas, thawed
• While the pasta is cooking, combine the rest of the ingredients in a medium bowl.
  8 ounces imitation crab, ¾ cup chopped cooked bacon, ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
• When the pasta is done, drain and rinse a bit with cold water to cool the pasta. Add to the bowl with the mayonnaise mixture.
• Mix until well combined. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

Prep Tips:

• Use pre-cooked bacon pieces to cut down on prep time.
• Use bottled lemon juice if you don’t have a lemon handy.

Variation Suggestions:

• Swap orzo for another small pasta like macaroni, ditalini, or small shells.
• Add diced celery, red onion, or bell pepper for crunch and color.
• Stir in a handful of shredded cheddar or mozzarella for extra richness.
• Use Greek yogurt in place of some or all of the mayo for a lighter option.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve chilled as a light lunch or a side for grilled meats.
• This is a great salad to take to a potluck or picnic, however be sure you can keep it cool.
• Garnish with fresh parsley or dill for a pop of color and flavor.

Storage Info For Leftovers:

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Stir before serving to refresh the texture, and add a spoonful of mayo or lemon juice if it’s a bit dry.
• Not recommended for freezing, as the texture of the pasta and mayo may change.

Nutrition

Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 515mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

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Enjoy!