This Bacon Pasta Salad with Ranch Dressing is a quick and easy meal you can bring to your next potluck or gathering. Filled with texture and flavor, this creamy dish contains rotini pasta, fresh tomatoes, and a ranch dressing you can make at home.
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Why this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe is a Keeper
This ranch pasta salad with bacon is a great recipe for a side dish or main course. With tender pasta, crumbled bacon pieces, creamy ranch dressing, this summer pasta salad is always perfect for any occasion. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this recipe for pasta salad with homemade dressing:
- Easy Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this delicious salad with creamy dressing can be found in your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Party Pleaser: This delicious recipe is perfect for dinner parties and BBQs.
- Adaptable: Add or modify anything you’d like to this bacon pasta salad, such as vegetables and toppings, dressings, or the type of pasta.
If you love this pasta salad, try these easy recipes: Caesar Pasta Salad, Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad, and Tuna Pasta Salad.
Why Is Pasta Salad Better the Next Day?
Pasta salad coated in a creamy ranch typically tastes best at room temperature and chilled before serving, so you can make it in advance and leave it in the fridge overnight to allow the flavors to meld together. However, don’t leave it out for over 2 hours at room temperature, as it could become unsafe to eat.
Ingredient Notes to Make Pasta Salad
- Rotini Pasta: While you can use other kinds of pasta noodles, such as bow-tie pasta, rotini is preferable because it holds the dressing well.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise will make a creamy base for the homemade ranch dressing.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream will add thickness and creaminess to the dressing mixture.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: Everything else you need for the ranch dressing is provided in 1 package of dry ranch dip mix.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions to Make this Salad with Cheese and Bacon
- Gluten-Free: For gluten free pasta salad, easily swap out gluten free pasta, or chickpea pasta.
- Greek Yogurt: To make this creamy bacon pasta salad somewhat healthier, swap out Greek yogurt for sour cream when making the ranch dressing for pasta salad.
- Dressing: If you don’t have time to make the dressing, use store-bought ranch dressing instead. Store-bought dressing can be easily added after boiling the pasta.
- Rotisserie Chicken: If you’ve left out the bacon, rotisserie chicken is a great alternate protein.
Pro Tip
Because pasta salad wants to dry out as it sits, load it up with ingredients that deliver both flavor and moisture.
How to Make Bacon Pasta Salad with Creamy Homemade Ranch Dressing
These are the basic steps for making bacon ranch pasta salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Boil the Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then cook pasta according to the package directions in salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta afterwards. Rinse pasta with cold water; set aside. After you cook the pasta, chop the tomatoes and shred cheddar cheese. Season the pasta with salt and pepper if desired.
2. Make Pasta Salad Dressing
While the pasta is cooking make the ranch dressing, whisk together the dressing ingredients: mayo, sour cream, milk, and the dry ranch packet. You can also add some extra garlic powder and onion powder.
3. Assemble Pasta Salad
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, peas, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese; add bacon to the pasta salad and gently toss to combine until evenly incorporated. Then, pour the ranch dressing over the pasta salad and mix until combined. Refrigerate the cooled pasta salad for at 1 hour or longer, and it’s ready to be served.
Pasta Salad With Bacon FAQs
Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. It should be good for 3-4 days.
If your pasta salad is dry, it may have been sitting out for a while. Add in a bit of olive oil or more mayo to restore the texture.
Rotini works best, but you can also use other ridged pasta, such as penne, bow tie pasta, or orecchiette.
If the pasta is gummy, it may have been overcooked or not rinsed beforehand. Make sure to cook your pasta according to the directions on the package.
Expert Tips for Making this Ranch Pasta Recipe
- Cheese: Feel free to use your favorite variety of cheese instead of cheddar.
- Olives: Olives and cheese or capers will add a salty taste to this great salad. Other vegetables you can use include broccoli, cucumbers, green onion, or bell peppers. Grilled chicken is also great for some extra protein.
- Low Fat Mayo: Use a low fat mayo to make the salad dressing somewhat healthier.
- Italian: Make Italian pasta salad in place of ranch. The dressing is the perfect flavor for a salad.
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Bacon Pasta Salad with Ranch Dressing
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Ingredients
- 12 ounces Rotini Pasta
- ⅔ cup Mayonnaise
- ⅔ cup Sour Cream
- ⅓ cup Milk
- 1 package Dry Ranch Dip Mix
- 6 slices Lean Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 9 ounces Frozen Green Peas, thawed
- 1 cup Grape Tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, diced
Instructions
- Boil the pasta. Then, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, milk and dry ranch packet ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Add all remaining ingredients to a large bowl and toss gently.
- Stir in dressing and mix until all ingredients are well coated.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to combine.
- Serve cold.
Christina’s Notes
- Cheese: Feel free to use your favorite variety of cheese instead of cheddar.
- Olives: Olives or capers will add a salty taste to this great salad. Other vegetables you can use include broccoli, cucumbers, green onion, or bell peppers. Grilled chicken is also great for some extra protein.
- Low Fat Mayo: Use a low fat mayo to make the salad dressing somewhat healthier.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.