Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad is perfect for any picnic, potluck, or bbq. It has all that awesome flavor of a Jalapeno Popper!
This delicious pasta salad has a creamy mixture of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. There’s also lots of diced jalapeno, bacon, shredded cheese, and green onions mixed in.
Let me tell you, this Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad has some major flavor. I don’t like any tasteless, bland pasta salads at my picnics. This one is so creamy and a little spicy and you can vary the amount of heat by adding more or less jalapenos.
This recipe is a lot like my Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad recipe which is always a hit. Can you really go wrong with Jalapeno Popper anything?
It’s best to make this pasta salad ahead of time and let the flavors marry. But the pasta tends to soak up all the dressing over time so I like to stir in an extra 1/4 cup of mayonnaise just before serving to freshen and moisten it back up some.
Try These Other Jalapeno Popper Recipes:
- Jalapeno Popper Crab Dip
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Chicken
- Jalapeno Popper Meatballs
- Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Omelet
Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make.
Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) box elbow pasta
- 3 ounces cream cheese,, softened
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise,, divided
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced jalapenos,, drained (you could use pickled jalapenos or fresh jalapenos instead)
- 3 green onions,, sliced
- 8 slices bacon,, cooked and crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I use a combo of cheddar and Pepper Jack)
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente in salted water. Drain well.
- While pasta is cooking, stir together cream cheese, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until mostly smooth. (It’s ok if cream cheese isn’t fully blended in.)
- Once pasta is drained, let it cool a few minutes, and then add it to mayonnaise mixture. It should still be very warm and the heat will help smooth out the cream cheese. Stir well.
- Mix in jalapenos, green onions. bacon, and shredded cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Just before serving, mix in the remaining 1/4 cup mayonnaise.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published June 18, 2017
More Jalapeno Popper Recipes
Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Pretzel Rolls
My husband could not stop eating it. This definitely will be one of our family favorite salads.
Easy to make and delicious. Gave a new taste to pasta salad. My family loved it. I used sweet and jalapenos for those who “can’t take the heat.”
Sooooo good!!
Delicious. It’s a little too mayonnaisey for me, so I’ll likely tweak it just a touch next time, but there will definitely be a “next time!” So much better than your typical pasta salad! It’s got a bite, but not too much to handle… the flavor blast is what makes it unique and wanting to come back for more!
I made this salad for our family dinner and it was a hit!
Fantastic! Made as per instructed, perfect. Thanks.
When do you mix in the other 1/4 cup mayo?
Right before serving.
Looks delicious but this recipe doesn’t have potatoes in it, maybe a typo?
Thanks for catching that typo Angela!! 🙂
No worries, I saved them both!! Love your recipes!!😋
This looks great, Christin! You always have the most fun renditions of everyday dishes. Love!