Description
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad brings irresistible flavor with crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and a creamy dressing. This easy, homemade meal is perfect for gatherings or quick dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 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
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the rotini pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water until completely cooled, then 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 cooked bacon, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, peas, orange bell pepper, red onion, and fresh herbs to the pasta bowl.
- Pour the ranch dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for the best flavor before serving.
- Garnish with extra bacon, herbs, or cheddar cheese before serving if desired.
Notes
Feel free to substitute different vegetables based on your preference.
For a lighter version, reduce the amount of mayonnaise and sour cream used.
This salad can be made a day in advance for easy meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg