Sweet Potato & Bacon Pasta Salad Recipe
A flavorful and hearty Sweet Potato & Bacon Pasta Salad featuring roasted sweet potatoes, crispy bacon, peppery arugula, and a zesty maple-Dijon dressing. Perfect served warm, at room temperature, or chilled as a satisfying meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 cups cooked pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 cup arugula
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans (optional)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Roast the Sweet Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the diced sweet potato cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20–25 minutes until tender and lightly browned. Once done, remove from oven and let cool slightly.
- Cook the Bacon: While the sweet potatoes are roasting, cook the 4 slices of bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. After cooking, drain on paper towels and let cool, then crumble into small pieces.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, roasted sweet potatoes, crumbled bacon, and 1 cup arugula.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons chopped pecans if using. Serve the pasta salad warm, at room temperature, or chilled depending on your preference.
Notes
- Use your favorite pasta shape such as rotini or penne for best texture.
- Roasting the sweet potatoes brings out their natural sweetness and adds a nice caramelized flavor.
- The salad can be customized with other greens like spinach if arugula is unavailable.
- Chilling the salad enhances the flavors, making it a great make-ahead dish.
- Maple syrup in the dressing complements the sweet potatoes and balances the bacon’s saltiness.
Keywords: sweet potato pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, roasted sweet potato salad, savory pasta salad, autumn salad
