Description
A creamy and flavorful Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad that combines rotini pasta with a rich ranch dressing, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, fresh cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Perfect as a summer side dish or for BBQs, this salad is easy to prepare and can be made ahead of time to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini pasta
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 oz ranch seasoning mix
Salad Mix-ins
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it completely and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch seasoning mix until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing. Then add shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion, and parsley if using. Toss thoroughly until all ingredients are coated evenly with the dressing.
- Season and Chill: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend well. Stir before serving.
Notes
- This salad can be prepared a day in advance and stored refrigerated to enhance the flavor.
- If the salad thickens after chilling, stir in a splash of milk before serving to loosen the dressing.
- For a lighter option, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the salad gluten-free.
