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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Broccoli salad with grape pasta salad flavor: shells or rotini tossed with blanched broccoli, purple grapes, and a creamy sweet-tang dressing. Chilled for 2 hours so the pasta stays tender and the broccoli turns bright green.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

pasta shells or rotini
  • 1 lb pasta shells or rotini
broccoli florets
  • 4 cup broccoli florets
red grapes
  • 2 cup red grapes
mayonnaise
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
sour cream
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
sugar
  • 0.25 cup sugar
red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
red onion
  • 0.5 cup red onion
sunflower seeds
  • 0.5 cup sunflower seeds
bacon
  • 6 bacon
salt
  • 1 salt to taste
pepper
  • 1 pepper to taste

Method
 

Cook pasta and broccoli
  1. Cook pasta shells or rotini according to package directions in boiling water, then drain and rinse with cold water until no steam remains.
  2. Blanch broccoli florets in boiling water for 2 minutes, then plunge into ice water and drain so they stay bright green.
Make the creamy dressing
  1. Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper until smooth and glossy, with no sugar grains visible.
Assemble and chill
  1. Combine pasta shells or rotini, broccoli florets, red grapes, and red onion in a large bowl, tossing gently so everything is evenly distributed.
  2. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all pasta and florets look lightly coated.
  3. Refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours to let flavors meld and the texture firm up.
  4. Top with sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon right before serving for crunch and contrast.

Notes

Pro tip: rinse the pasta with cold water and drain broccoli well so the dressing clings instead of pooling. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; freeze is not recommended because mayonnaise-based dressing can separate. For a lighter option, use light mayonnaise and light sour cream (texture stays creamy but with fewer calories).