Bacon and Tomato Macaroni Salad, is an easy pasta salad recipe using bacon, tomato, celery and macaroni with a simple mayonnaise dressing. An ideal pasta side dish.
We all know bacon makes everything taste good! This bacon, tomato and macaroni salad is no exception.
The recipe itself is really easy to make, and if you make it ahead, say the night before or in the morning and it has a few hours to chill in the refrigerator, the flavors really do come together.
For this recipe, we've used regular elbow macaroni pasta. You can use any pasta shapes, just go by the cook time on the package so you have it al dente.
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, check Privacy Policy.
We've sometimes swapped the celery for frozen peas, and used a variety of baby tomatoes. Just go with whatever is in season and the ripest.
The dressing is a lovely creamy mayonnaise dressing and for a little kick, we've added some chili sauce. If that's not to your taste, or you're making this for the children, you can certainly leave that out. Try adding a tablespoon of BBQ sauce to the dressing instead. Equally as delicious!
This salad is ideal for taking to a picnic, BBQ, or potluck. It transports really well and you can make ahead and simply store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. It's also great for lunchboxes too. Make a batch and take it to work!
If you're wanting to make a variety of salads, say for a party, check out our other delicious salad recipes. There's something to suit everyone's taste!
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
optional 1 hr for chilling
Yield
4 Persons
Ingredients
The salad
3 cups or 230 g elbow macaroni, cooked
2 fresh tomatoes
2 Scallions/spring onions, chopped
1 stick celery, diced
4 slices cooked bacon
The dressing
½ Cup or 130 g of Mayonnaise ( do not use salad dressing)
1 -2 Tablespoons chili sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste.
1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh flat leaved parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Cook the macaroni as per package instructions, rinse under cold water to cool, and drain.
Place macaroni in a bowl, and add the diced tomatoes, scallions, and diced celery.
2. Cook the bacon then cut it into small pieces and add to the salad.
3. Make up the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together. Season to taste. Be aware, if your bacon is salty, you may need less or no salt, so taste as you go along.
4. Add the dressing to the salad and combine.
5. Sprinkle some chopped parsley on the top for garnish.
Chill for at least an hour. Overnight is better if you have time.
We've also got a lovely Chicken and honey mustard dressing salad recipe and you can use the dressing recipe there for this one too!
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other ingredients? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Bacon and Tomato Macaroni Salad
Bacon and Tomato Macaroni Salad, an easy pasta salad recipe using bacon, tomato, celery and macaroni with a simple mayonnaise dressing. An ideal pasta side dish.
Ingredients
The salad
- 3 cups or 230 g elbow macaroni, cooked
- 2 fresh tomatoes
- 2 Scallions / spring onions, chopped
- 1 stick celery, diced
- 4 slices cooked bacon
The dressing
- ½ Cup or 130 g of Mayonnaise ( do not use salad dressing)
- 1 -2 Tablespoons chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- 1 Tablespoon chopped, fresh flat leaved parsley
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni as per package instructions and rinse under cold water to cool, and drain.
- Place macaroni in a bowl, and add the diced tomatoes, scallions, and diced celery.
- Cook the bacon then cut into small pieces and add to the salad.
- Make up the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together. Season to taste. Be aware, if your bacon is salty, you may need less or no salt, so taste as you go along.
- Add the dressing to the salad and combine.
- Sprinkle some chopped parsley on the top for garnish.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Coleman 50-Quart Wheeled Cooler | Xtreme 5-Day Cooler with Wheels -
Large Stoneware Salad Serving Bowl, 78oz/11inch Embossed Multicolor Mexican Floral Design, with 2 Bamboo Salad Hands
-
KooK Double Wall Serving Bowl - 11 Inch Hammered Style - Stainless Steel (Soup, Cooked Food, Salads, Fruit)
-
Annovero Cereal Bowls – Set of 6 Porcelain Bowls for Soup, Salad, Rice, or Pasta, 6.25 Inch Diameter, 23 Fluid Ounce (2.75 Cup) Capacity
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 604mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 9g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Delicious Salad Ideas
Here's a selection of easy and delicious salad recipes, perfect for lunch, dinner, parties or indeed anytime!
Pasta Party Salad! It's certainly popular at party time!
Creamy Egg and Potato Salad, buttery baby potatoes and egg combined in a creamy mayonnaise and pickle sauce, great tasting and popular at potlucks and parties
Cauliflower and Pea Salad, a delicious popular creamy salad, ideal for a picnic or side dish to any meal. Very easy recipe with a homemade dressing sauce.
A delicious seafood cocktail sauce, mild yet tangy, the perfect accompaniment to prawns, lobster, and ideal for serving as a dipping sauce or to add to a prawn cocktail.
Avocado Egg Salad is a wonderfully easy recipe and very quick to make. Serve as a salad in a bowl or with some crusty bread warm from the oven. Delicious! Great for brunch, lunch or supper or party food!
Goat's Cheese Salad with warm Herb and Walnut Vinaigrette is a wonderful fresh tasting salad and easy to make. Delicious served with some warm bread fresh from the oven too!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is an easy recipe. Loaded with pieces of tender chicken, cranberries, crunchy pecans, and sweet apples. It’s great as a sandwich, as a salad, on crackers, and fantastic for parties and potlucks.
Chicken Caesar Salad is a refreshing and wonderful tasting dish, made from scratch and easy too! Options for low calorie if you prefer.
Strawberry and Spinach Salad with a delicious poppyseed dressing is to die for! Great for parties, BBQ's and as a side dish for lunch or dinner
The Best Easy Cucumber Salad. Great Flavors and always a hit! Very refreshing taste and crunch with a sweet and sour pickled juice
Simple Refreshing Salad. Simple ingredients using apple, cucumber, and tomato combined with a lovely easy yogurt dressing makes for a deliciously refreshing salad.
Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad.
A delicious, easy chicken salad with an easy honey mustard dressing. Great for using leftover chicken. Serve as a lunch or dinner, alongside a buffet or BBQ.
Easy Egg and Potato Salad, a delicious creamy salad using eggs, potatoes, celery, onion mustard and mayonnaise. Ideal for potlucks, BBQ's and parties!
Corn and Cucumber Picnic Salad. A very simple yet great tasting salad and perfect for the holidays!
Refreshing Spinach & Grape Salad with a delicious dressing! A wonderful tasting salad high in Vitamins and Minerals. Options to also add Apple and Bacon. Always a nice combination!
Best Ever Pico De Gallo, Salsa Fresca, a delicious Mexican salsa, quick and easy to make with refreshing flavors of lime, jalapenos, tomatoes, and cilantro. Absolutely delicious!
Homemade Creamy Coleslaw, a delicious low-fat salad option to a popular side dish, using fresh ingredients. Ideal for BBQ's, parties and burgers!
Bill's Chicken Salad is a great family recipe, very easy to make and great tasting. Serve in lettuce wraps, sandwiches, on it's own, the sky's the limit!
Tasty Macaroni Ham Salad.
A simple and delicious recipe for macaroni ham salad, quick and easy to make, ideal as a side dish with a BBQ or main meal. Creamy, full of flavor and easily transportable for picnics too!
Deluxe Chicken Salad Wraps. These little wraps are great for parties, lunches, suppers, or any time! It's a great way to use up left over chicken (or turkey), and the recipe is nice and easy, with no fuss. Delicious!
Bacon and Asparagus Pasta Salad is a lovely simple dish, served warm or chilled as a main or side dish. Goes perfect with a BBQ too!
Easy Potluck Pasta Salad is a great potluck salad bowl, with olives, cheese, pepperoni, peppers and much more. Easy to transport, by far the best salad to take to a party!
This Simple Greek Salad is full of flavor. Cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, feta cheese, olives and onion combined with a delicious lemon and herb salad dressing.
Nutty Broccoli Slaw, quick, simple salad with broccoli, ramen noodles, olives, sunflower seeds and almonds, coated in a delicious cider vinegar dressing.