Loaded Deviled Egg Pasta Salad Recipe

There's something magical that takes place when two popular food items are combined to make something new. The cronut is one such example, but if you're looking for a new idea that's savory rather than sweet and guaranteed to please any group of family and friends, we'd like to suggest this "loaded" deviled egg pasta salad. Because truly, if you're a deviled eggs fan and a pasta salad fan, there's no way this recipe is going to end up a dud. 

"This recipe is packed with a variety of flavors and textures, and it's a fun spin on a traditional pasta salad," explains recipe developer Kate Shungu. "The bacon, in particular, is a surprising addition that's not common in pasta salads." And just like you might serve deviled eggs or pasta salad at a big barbecue or potluck, this hybrid dish works in the same way. "This would be a great side dish for burgers, brats, grilled chicken — really anything that you'd serve at a cookout," Shungu says. 

Start by gathering the ingredients you'll need. You may already have quite a few of them on hand as they're all fairly common, but chances are you'll need to go ahead and boil your eggs or pick up a few of the add-ins from the store before you get started. "For this recipe, we're combining deviled eggs with pasta salad, and we're making them 'loaded.' So there are plenty of mix-ins, like bacon, pimentos, chives, and cheddar cheese," Shungu says.

You'll need a package of elbow pasta, hard-boiled eggs, a yellow onion, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, cooked and crumbled bacon (you can make your own or pick up the pre-made version from the store), chopped pimentos, shredded cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and paprika. 

This probably isn't your first time to cook pasta, so go ahead and cook it as you usually do, making sure to salt the water for flavor. Just make sure you check the cooking instructions on the package, as thicker pasta like elbows take a little longer to cook than a thinner shape like spaghetti or angel hair. When the pasta has cooked to your liking, drain it and set it aside to cool. 

You'll be using 6 hard-boiled eggs for this recipe, but one of them is reserved for the garnish, so set it aside. With the remaining eggs, remove the yolks and chop the egg whites, keeping the whites and yolks separate before setting them aside.

This pasta salad is essentially tossed in a deviled eggs "sauce," so the first real step is to mix that up. Put the egg yolks in a large bowl and mash them together. Then, add the chopped onion, mayonnaise, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Whisk everything together until combined and mostly smooth. 

With the sauce complete, add the cooked pasta, chopped egg whites, ¾ of the bacon, pimentos, and shredded cheddar to the same bowl. Use a spoon to mix it all together until everything is well combined. 

All that's left to do is garnish the salad. Take the hard-boiled egg you set aside earlier and slice it, perhaps arranging it in a fan shape on the top of the macaroni. Sprinkle the remaining bacon and chopped chives on top, then finish with a dash of paprika. Shungu says this salad can be enjoyed immediately, but if you prefer a cold salad, pop it in the fridge to chill for several hours before serving it alongside your favorite main courses. 

If you don't eat all of your deviled egg pasta salad in one meal, you can store the leftovers for 4-5 days. You may even discover you prefer the salad a day or 2 after you've made it, as the flavors will have had even more time to meld.