Description
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavor-packed dish perfect for summer gatherings, featuring creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies.
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 ounce ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup diced celery (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until it reaches that perfect al dente texture, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down completely.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
3. Add the cooled pasta to the prepared dressing and toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated with the creamy ranch mixture.
4. Gently fold in the crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, chopped green onions, diced celery (if using), and fresh parsley. Stir everything together until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
5. Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. When ready to serve, give the salad a final gentle toss and enjoy its creamy, bacon-y goodness!
Notes
Feel free to customize with different pasta shapes or add-ins like diced bell peppers or avocado cubes. For a healthier version, consider using whole grain or gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 50mg