Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Print)
Creamy ranch-bacon pasta salad with crunchy veggies and cheddar, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
→ Dressing
02 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1 packet (30 g) ranch seasoning mix
05 - 1–2 tbsp milk, as needed
→ Veggies & Add-ins
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup yellow or red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits
10 - 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
# How to Make:
01 - Boil rotini or penne in salted water until al dente, following package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking, and spread out to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch seasoning mix until smooth. Stir in 1 tablespoon of milk to reach a pourable consistency, adding a second tablespoon if needed.
03 - Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and toss thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated.
04 - Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes, diced bell pepper, shredded cheddar, bacon bits, sliced green onions, and thawed peas.
05 - Mix until all components are evenly distributed. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or additional dressing as desired.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The ranch bacon combo hits that deep craving spot that regular pasta salads just cannot reach
- It comes together in 25 minutes flat with zero cooking skills required
02 -
- Serving this warm is a completely different and much less impressive experience so do not skip the chilling step
- Rinsing the pasta with cold water removes the surface starch that would otherwise make the dressing slide right off
03 -
- Pat the thawed peas dry with a paper towel before adding them so they do not water down the dressing
- Cook your bacon in the oven on a sheet pan for the most even crumble with zero greasy stovetop mess