Bow Tie Pasta Salad

The Bow Tie Pasta Salad is everything you love about a classic deli-style side dish—only better. This cold salad is perfect for warm days, bursting with textures and flavors from crisp bell pepper, sweet peas, tender pasta, and hearty bites of ham and cheese. The creamy mustard dressing ties everything together with just the right amount of tang and freshness.

Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or just a satisfying lunch, this salad is a make-ahead marvel. It not only holds up in the fridge—it gets better as it sits! Add it to your summer recipe rotation, and you’ll find yourself craving those creamy, savory, crunchy spoonfuls again and again.

Full Recipe:

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt (plus more for pasta water)

• 1 lb bow tie (farfalle) pasta

• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• 3 Tbsp yellow mustard

• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 tsp honey

• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

• 1/2 lb deli ham, cubed

• 1/2 lb cheddar cheese, cubed

• 1 red bell pepper, chopped

• 4 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the bow tie pasta according to package instructions, adding one extra minute. In the final minute of boiling, add the frozen peas to the water. Drain everything and rinse under cold water to cool quickly.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream (or yogurt), olive oil, parsley, mustard, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper.

3. Fold in the cooked pasta and peas, then add ham, cheddar, chopped bell pepper, and green onions. Mix gently to combine all ingredients evenly.

4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Optional: reserve some extra dressing or add a splash of milk before serving to refresh the texture.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 22 minutes
Kcal: 425 kcal | Servings: 10–12 servings

Introduction: The Ultimate Summer Staple

Bow Tie Pasta Salad, often recognized by its distinctive “farfalle” shape, is more than just a dish—it’s a celebration of summer on a plate. Whether you’re planning a casual backyard barbecue, a potluck with friends, or a refreshing weekday lunch, this salad delivers bright flavors, creamy textures, and a beautiful visual appeal that makes it a standout on any table.

Known for its fun shape and versatility, bow tie pasta provides an ideal base for a chilled salad, easily absorbing flavors while maintaining its firm texture. This particular version, which combines savory ham, sharp cheddar cheese, sweet green peas, and crunchy bell pepper, all tied together with a tangy, creamy mustard dressing, offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s the kind of dish that brings people back for second helpings—and maybe even thirds.

Why Bow Tie Pasta is Perfect for Cold Salads

Farfalle, or bow tie pasta, is uniquely suited for pasta salads. Its ridged surface and pinched center make it perfect for catching and holding onto dressings, herbs, and small diced ingredients like ham or cheese. Unlike longer pasta shapes, farfalle holds up well when tossed with creamy dressings and refrigerated, making it a smart choice for make-ahead meals.

In cold pasta salads, texture matters. You want something that holds its shape, resists becoming mushy, and still has enough bite to provide contrast against the creamy dressing. Bow tie pasta checks all those boxes, ensuring each bite feels satisfying and well-structured.

The Magic of the Creamy Mustard Dressing

What elevates this dish from your average cold pasta salad is the dressing. Instead of relying solely on mayonnaise, the base is lightened up and made more complex with sour cream or Greek yogurt, olive oil, yellow mustard, lemon juice, and a touch of honey. The result is a bright, tangy, creamy mixture that doesn’t overwhelm the other ingredients but ties them all together.

Yellow mustard gives the dressing a subtle tang and vibrant color, while lemon juice adds an acidic brightness that balances the richness of the mayonnaise and cheese. Honey introduces a gentle sweetness that rounds out the flavors and enhances the natural sugars found in the peas and bell pepper.

This balance is what makes the dish feel refreshing rather than heavy, and why it’s such a hit during warm-weather months.

Ingredient Harmony: A Colorful Symphony of Flavor and Texture

This salad isn’t just a mix of tasty ingredients—it’s a well-thought-out combination of textures and flavors. The cubed deli ham adds a savory, meaty bite, while the cheddar cheese brings saltiness and a creamy, slightly sharp flavor that contrasts beautifully with the sweet peas and crisp red bell pepper.

Peas, often underappreciated in cold salads, lend not just color but also a subtle sweetness and pop of texture. Using frozen peas is a smart choice—they’re easy to keep on hand and don’t require much prep. Just a quick dip in the boiling pasta water is enough to bring them to life.

The addition of green onions adds a fresh, slightly pungent bite, enhancing the depth of the dish without overpowering the other elements. It’s the careful layering of these components that makes the salad feel like a full meal, not just a side.

Make-Ahead Friendly: A Host’s Best Friend

One of the best features of this pasta salad is how well it performs when made ahead of time. In fact, it often tastes better after a few hours—or even a day—in the fridge. The flavors have time to meld, the pasta soaks up some of the dressing, and the salad overall becomes more cohesive.

This makes it ideal for events and entertaining. You can prepare it in the morning and have one less thing to worry about when guests arrive. And since it’s served cold, you won’t need to worry about oven space or reheating logistics.

Want to freshen it up before serving? Just reserve a little bit of the dressing or stir in a splash of milk or olive oil to restore creaminess and loosen up the salad.

Tips for Customization

What makes this salad even better is how customizable it is. While the original recipe is perfectly balanced, there’s always room to make it your own:

• Protein swaps: Don’t have ham? Try grilled chicken, roasted turkey, or even crispy bacon bits. For a vegetarian version, omit the meat altogether or replace it with roasted chickpeas or cubed tofu.

• Cheese variations: Cheddar is classic, but feel free to experiment with pepper jack, Monterey Jack, or even crumbled feta for a tangier twist.

• Add more veggies: Chopped cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, or even roasted corn can add more texture and a garden-fresh element.

• Spice it up: Add a pinch of paprika or cayenne to the dressing for a subtle kick, or mix in a few spoonfuls of chopped pickled jalapeños for a zesty upgrade.

• Herb infusions: Parsley adds freshness, but you could also try dill, chives, or basil for a different flavor profile.

These tweaks let you keep the base of the recipe intact while adjusting the flavor to your preferences or what’s already in your fridge.

Nutritional Balance in a Bowl

This salad isn’t just delicious—it’s surprisingly balanced. Between the protein from ham and cheese, the fiber from peas and veggies, and the carbohydrates from pasta, it works as a satisfying standalone meal or a hearty side.

You can make it lighter by using low-fat versions of the creamy ingredients or substituting with Greek yogurt entirely. Conversely, for a richer version, you can go all-in with full-fat mayonnaise and cheese. The flexibility of this recipe makes it suitable for different dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Presentation Tips for Maximum Appeal

Serving this dish at a gathering? A few simple presentation tweaks can elevate it:

• Use a large white or wooden serving bowl to contrast the colorful ingredients.

• Garnish with extra parsley, a sprinkle of black pepper, or a few slices of green onion just before serving.

• Serve alongside grilled meats, fresh lemonade, or crisp white wine for a complete summer spread.

You could even portion it into small mason jars for a chic picnic or lunchbox option—convenient, portable, and photogenic.

Ideal Occasions for Serving

Bow Tie Pasta Salad is the type of dish that fits almost every event:

• Barbecues and cookouts: Its cool temperature and bright flavors balance out grilled meats.

• Potlucks: Easy to transport, stays delicious even when slightly warm.

• Lunchboxes: Nutritious and filling enough to be a standalone meal.

• Holiday gatherings: Adds a cold dish to balance heavier mains.

• Weeknight dinners: Make once, enjoy for days.

It’s also kid-friendly, thanks to the creamy dressing and familiar ingredients, making it a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Conclusion: A Recipe Worth Repeating

Creamy Bow Tie Pasta Salad is more than just a recipe—it’s a dependable go-to that you’ll find yourself returning to time and again. It’s easy to prepare, endlessly versatile, and perfectly suited for a wide range of occasions. With its bright, creamy dressing and colorful mix-ins, this dish manages to be both comforting and refreshing—a rare combo.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week, this salad holds its own. It showcases how simple ingredients, when paired thoughtfully, can result in a dish that is not only tasty but memorable. Add it to your rotation, and let it bring color, flavor, and fun to your summer meals and beyond.