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With the "unofficial" start of summer upon us this weekend, I'm thinking about enjoying the outdoors as much as possible!  I'm looking forward to grilling and making delicious salads like this Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad. It's an amazingly creamy broccoli pasta salad you are going to love. It's your favorite broccoli salad with the addition of pasta for a heartier side dish!  Find everything you need to make this salad and everything you need to pull of a great summer grilling meal at your local Giant Eagle! 

As soon as the days heat up, my husband gets our grill ready for action. We don't take warm and sunny summer days for granted here in North East Ohio, because they can be a rare commodity. So, when I'm ready to fire up that grill, I head to Giant Eagle.

Why?

Because I can grab everything I need to pull off a summertime meal and be back basking in the sunshine in no time.  It's a one-stop-shop for all your grilling needs!

I don't know about you, but summertime is synonymous with grilled burgers in my book.

I LOVE that I can pick up gourmet Certified Angus Beef® burgers from the meat counter at Giant Eagle that are already shaped and infused with great flavor like these Bacon Cheddar Patties! Plus, I can breeze through the store grabbing everything I need to make a complete meal, including dessert!

Just look at all those little cubes of cheddar and pieces of bacon all throughout the burger! We like to top these with a simple slice of red, ripe tomato.  That's all they need!

This complete meal took me about 45 minutes to pull together!  And, that means I get more time to enjoy the summer instead of slaving in the kitchen!

What goes great with burgers/

Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad does! 

Yum, yum, yum!

Broccoli Pasta Salad with Bacon is soooo good! 

Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad is a great accompaniment for the grilled burgers. Since I use frozen broccoli florets in this recipe, the work of chopping and preparing fresh broccoli out. I also like to purchase pre-cooked bacon, so all I need to do it chop it and add it to the salad.

Easy Broccoli Pasta Salad

By Renee Paj

Your favorite broccoli salad combines with your favorite macaroni salad to create this flavorful side dish that pairs perfectly with grilled burgers!

Ingredients

• 16 oz. dry cavatappi pasta
• 20 oz. frozen broccoli florets
• 1 cup Hellman's® Real Mayonnaise
• 3-4 TBS red wine vinegar
• 2-3 TBS granulated sugar
• kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to your liking
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 - 1 cup fully-cooked chopped bacon
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1 - 1/2 to 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds (optional, but delicious!)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions to al dente. About minute before the cook time is up for the pasta, add the frozen broccoli to the boiling water. Stir. Cook for one more minute and then drain broccoli and pasta in a colander, under running cold water. Stir the pasta and broccoli around under the cold water to stop cooking. Set aside and allow to drain once no longer hot.
2. In large bowl, whisk together the Hellman's® Real Mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper. Stir in the red onion, bacon and dried cranberries.
3. Add the cooled pasta/broccoli mixture to the dressing. Stir to coat. Stir in the cheddar cheese. Cover and refrigerate for 30 min. to allow flavors to blend and complete the cooling.
4. Before serving, stir again. Add in the sunflower seeds, if using.

Yield: 10 servings
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 10 mins.

Cook time: 00 hrs. 10 mins.
Total time: 20 mins.
(Plus chill time) 

Printable Recipes

What occasion will you make Easy Broccoli Salad for? 

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