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Bacon-Ranch-Pasta-Salad-Recipe

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad features a delightful mix of flavors with crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and a creamy ranch dressing. This easy-to-make dish is ideal for a quick dinner, picnic, or potluck, satisfying your cravings for something hearty and homemade.

  • Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces uncooked rotini (or shells, elbows, or penne)
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup diced sweet bell pepper (any color)
  • ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (duke's preferred)
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 (1-ounce) packet ranch seasoning mix
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • chopped fresh parsley
  • extra crumbled bacon

Instructions

  1. Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, sugar, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth to create the dressing.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, diced bell pepper, thawed peas, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions.
  4. Pour about three-quarters of the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours. Keep the remaining dressing in the fridge separately.
  5. Before serving, stir in the remaining dressing to refresh the salad. Taste and add additional seasoning if desired. Garnish with parsley or extra crumbled bacon.

Notes

For a lighter version, consider using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Feel free to add more vegetables like cucumber or broccoli for extra nutrition.
This salad can be prepared a day in advance for even better flavor.

  • Author: Sarah
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 140 minutes
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: No-Cook/Cold
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 800mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 22g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 9g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg