Creamy Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad
This Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad is a quick and easy side dish that’s perfect for your next summer BBQ! It brings together ultra-creamy Velveeta with a sweet pop of English peas, vibrant cherry pimentos, and the tangy crunch of sweet pickle relish. I just love how this recipe comes together with simple ingredients I already have in my pantry!
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad
- Serves: 6 - 8 servings
- Main Ingredients: Velveeta, bowtie pasta, - ¾ cup mayonnaise, English peas, T spicy brown mustard, jar of pimentos, sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper, to taste
- Why You'll Love It: This creamy, tangy Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad is a beloved summer staple that comes together in no time using simple pantry ingredients - the kind of dish that disappears fast at any backyard BBQ!
A Fresh and Vibrant Summer Classic
I can’t get me enough of fresh and vibrant pasta salad in the summertime. From my Italian Pasta Salad and Ham Pasta Salad to my BLT Pasta Salad, there are all kinds of ways to make this classic cookout side downright delcious.
This Velveeta bowtie pasta salad is something I love to make during the spring and summer. It’s bright and creamy with just the right amount of tang and crunch from the veggies. The bowtie pasta really knows how to hold onto the flavor and dressing, making every bite taste like a little slice of heaven.
I sure can’t complain about how simple it is to make, either. I had just about everything I needed right at home, so it took no time at all. The hardest part is waiting for it to chill! But that just makes it perfect for making ahead.
Reader Review
“I always keep a bag or two of the mini bow tie pasta on hand. My children love when I cook this up, then turn it into either pasta salad or make it into chicken …. My kids love this pasta with Velveeta, in fact they call it macaroni and cheese!”
Recipe Ingredients
- Salt and pepper
- Velveeta cheese
- Bowtie pasta
- Mayonnaise
- English peas
- Spicy brown mustard (use regular if you have it on hand!)
- Jar of pimentos
- Sweet pickle relish
Recipe Variations & Notes
- Add crunch: Stir in diced onion, celery, or bell peppers cut into smaller pieces.
- Make it smoky: Add crumbled bacon, savory ground beef, or smoked paprika for extra flavor.
- Protein boost: Toss in chopped hard-boiled eggs, diced ham, or shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Cheesy boost: Sprinkle in parmesan cheese or mix in a block of cream cheese for a rich, creamy pasta dish.
- Spice it up: Add a dash of chili powder, green chilies, or rotel tomatoes for a flavorful dish with a kick.
How to Make Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad
Step 1. Cook the Pasta
Boil your pasta following the instructions on the package. Once it’s done, drain it in a colander and give it a rinse with cold water to cool it down quickly.
Step 2. Mix the Dressing
Next, grab a medium mixing bowl and stir all your other ingredients together.
Step 3. Add Macaroni & Chill
Once everything is well combined, give it a taste and add a little more mayo if you think it needs it. Place it in the fridge and let it chill for at least 1 hour before serving. The longer, the better!
Step 4. Serve & Enjoy
Give it a good stir before serving and enjoy! I love to serve this with a side of sweet tea brined grilled chicken and fluffy Southern cathead biscuits, washed down with some creamy frozen lemonade. It doesn’t get much more summery than that, does it?
Velveeta Bowtie Pasta Salad FAQs
Yes, but I’d recommend sticking with Velveeta if you can! Other cheeses won’t melt and blend into the salad the same way. Velveeta gives it that creamy, smooth texture that makes this dish so irresistible. If you’re in a pinch, a mild cheddar could work, but just know it won’t be quite the same.
I let my pasta cool for about 10 minutes before tossing it into the salad. You want it to be just cool enough that it doesn’t melt everything together, but I find that a little warmth actually helps the dressing and cheese blend in nicely. If you have more time, you can always put it in the fridge to speed things up!
Finely diced fresh red bell pepper is a perfect substitute. I’ve made this swap before when my pantry was bare, and I actually loved the extra crunch it added. If you still want that soft, pickled flavor that pimentos bring, you can use chopped roasted red peppers from a jar instead.
Storage
Store your Velveeta bowtie pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I recommend eating it within this timeframe before it starts getting soggy.
What do you plan on cooking on the 4th? I’d love to hear your menu in the comments section and its a great opportunity for everyone to get more ideas, too!
Ingredients
- 1 cup Velveeta grated
- 10 ounces bowtie pasta
- ½ – ¾ cup mayonnaise if you like more dressing, add the full amount
- 1 can English peas drained
- 1 T spicy brown mustard can use regular if you have it on hand!
- 2-4 oz jar of pimentos
- ⅓ cup sweet pickle relish
- salt and pepper, to taste I start with ½ tsp of each
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander and run cold water over it to cool.10 ounces bowtie pasta
- Mix all other ingredients together in medium mixing bowl.1 cup Velveeta, ½ – ¾ cup mayonnaise, 1 can English peas, 1 T spicy brown mustard, 2-4 oz jar of pimentos, ⅓ cup sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper, to taste
- Add macaroni and mix well, adding more mayo if needed.10 ounces bowtie pasta, ½ – ¾ cup mayonnaise
- Chill for at least 1 hour and stir before serving.
Notes
- I always make this the night before. The flavors get so much better after a few hours in the fridge!
- Feel free to swap the bowtie pasta for elbow macaroni or rotini. Whatever you have in the pantry works great!
- If you’re feeding a crowd, I’d recommend doubling the recipe. This one goes fast at potlucks and BBQs!
- For a bit of crunch, diced celery or red onion makes a great mix-in without overpowering the other flavors.
I can right off the bat this is going to become a new favorite dish of mine.
Never thought of Velveeta being used this way. Too used to the whole shells and cheese or salsa and melted cheese notions.
4th is my parents anniversary so we usually do something different than the standard summer fare. And I usually bake some favorite sweet treat of theirs. Really, though, not sure yet.
Anyway, this really looks delicious and as Lora said, I’m eagerly awaiting your cookbook!
Im makin this for the 4th, but I am gonna add a little onion to mine cause I like onion (Im like you Christy, gotta have some onion in my salad). Im also gonna do another slow cooker roast like i did this past weekend. And you are gonna like this one, the next day, I cut up the leftover roast, got me some of those southern style hash browns, sauteed some onion, then added the hash browns and let them cook a bit, added the roast beef and let it cook some more, then poured some of the gravy from the roast over that and let the whole thing simmer. Instant roast beef hash, YUMMY.
We’ll be going to friends for the day and I’ll be taking brownie squares decorated with white frosting with red & blue stripes and some red, white & blue star sprinkles. Everyone loves brownies!! I use a cookie cutter to cut the squares out of the brownie pan.
Have a happy 4th of July to you & your family!!! 🙂 ~~~~~~~
Hi Christy!
Could you please answer a nagging question of mine? I have loved your canister set every time I see it in one of your videos. I am referring to the glass ones with the red tops and the words Flour, sugar, etc written on them. They are soooo cute! Would you please tell me where you got them? I hope they are still available to buy! Thanks Christy! I love your website! I am a transplanted Louisiana girl living the state of Texas!!!Yeehaw!!
I would love to know also!! Kmarts sells the jars with the red lid but no words are written on them. Hope we find out!!LOL
Thanks Sue for letting me know where the canisters came from. I wish I had a kmart in my neck of the woods..used to but it closed….:( Have a great day!!
How do you shred Velveeta?
No sure where she buys the canisters but I believe I’ve read that she does the lettering herself. Hope that helps!
Thanks Lavelle for your input on Christys canister set. Do you remember how she does the lettering? Does she paint the words on are are they some type of sticker she bought? I cant wait until Christy responds to our posts about those cute canisters!! 🙂
Yah, I remember in a post I read she said HOW she did it, but I can’t remember..maybe just email her!
Ah, I found her post! these are her words:
“”Eventually I promise I’m going to get around to doing a tutorial on my canisters… I made them myself but I don’t know where you can get the letters because I had a friend do those up for me so that is what I’m hesitant about because I can’t bring you A.B.C. steps to having canisters just like mine, I can only bring you A. and B.””
So, if you email her maybe she she will do the tutorial!
Hi Hallie,
Thanks so much for trying to find out how she decorated her canisters. I really appreciate you taking the time to do that. I had no idea she decorated them. I thought she bought them that way. Anyway, they are super cute..dont you think? Christy…if you are reading this..please do a tutorial on how your canisters were decorated! :)Thanks again for your reply! Have a blessed day!
Hi Christy, That looks yummy! This is my favorite recipe site, and I just love your “commentary”. I can’t wait to get your cookbook!
I don’t know what we’re having yet, either. We’ll probably grill, which is always fun. One of the few down sides of Alaska in the summer is that you can’t really enjoy fireworks since it’s light out the entire night!