Description
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad combines delightful flavors with creamy ranch dressing. It’s easy to prepare and makes for a great side dish or light meal, perfect for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (or ½ to ¾ cup crispy bacon bits)
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or dill, chopped (optional)
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until cooled. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning, black pepper, and salt until smooth.
- Add the bacon, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, peas, bell pepper, red onion, and herbs to the pasta.
- Pour the ranch dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance the flavors.
- Garnish with extra bacon, herbs, or cheddar cheese before serving if desired.
Notes
Feel free to adjust the amount of bacon to your preference.
This salad can be made a day ahead for even better flavor.
Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg