Looking to elevate your pasta salad game to new heights? Dive into this irresistable and The Best Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe - Creamy (really, the best creamy pasta salad out there!). With just a few clicks on Google, you've found this creamy ranch dressing made for the best creamy ranch pasta salad out there! This salad combines the comforting creaminess of the ranch dressing with the satisfying crunch of veggies, green onions and the smoky deliciousness of bacon with the acid of cherry tomatoes and black olives.
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
This pasta salad works for the seasoned chef as well as the new cook and is perfect for summer barbecues as an easy pasta salad recipes.
Imagine tender pasta shells envelovped in a luscious velvety ranch dressing, tossed with vibrant vegetables like crispy cucumbers, juicy grape tomatoes, smoky crispy bacon and crunchy bell peppers. Each bite of bright flavors and textures leaves you craving more and more!
You might like trying some of our other pasta recipes like "All the Secrets to Perfect Pasta Salad", How to Boil Pasta and Italian Chicken Pasta.
Here's What You'll Need
- Cold water to cook the pasta noodles (elbow macaroni if you like) al dente
- Veggies you enjoy like carrots, baby peas, red onion, green peppers.
- Ranch seasoning
- Cheddar Cheese
- Finish with Fresh peas for a festive look!
Here's How You Do It
- Cook the pasta (bow tie pasta?)
- Mix the mayo, colorful veggies and the ranch flavor seasoning packet.
- Toss the pasta with the mix in a large bowl and refrigerate for cold pasta salad.
- May people love adding hard boiled eggs too!
Tips and Tricks
- This pasta sald is super versatile and you can make it one of your favorite recipes by adding your favorite veggies and seasonings like sweet peas, red bell pepper, bacon bits, black pepper, juicy tomatoes, fresh corn and more!
- Always cook the pasta to al dente, it will soften more as it sits in the refrigerator waiting to go to the summer bbqs!
- For an Italian pasta salad, you'll need to add an olive oil type dressing instead of a ranch and mayo dressing.
- Use any type of pasta you prefer like spiral pasta, rotini pasta, macaroni pasta or penne pasta, its completely a personal preference.
- For more informaiton about storing pasta salad safely, check out this USDA site.
PRO TIP: Adding a dash of fish sauce to your pasta salad will increase the umami many times over. Only a few drops are needed.
Storage, Freezing and Reheating
- Store this favorite pasta salad in an air tight container in the referigerator for up to 3 days. Often, you'll find this tastes even better the next day.
- Do not freeze this pasta salad because the mayo will break and you'll have a goopy mess on your hands.
- No need to reheat. Its best as a a cold perfect side dish.
Watch Me Make This
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The Best Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe - Creamy
Ingredients
- ½ lb pasta al dente
- 1 small carrot shredded
- ¼ Cup baby peas frozen
- 3 Tbs Onion minced
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing mix
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Cup Milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions – drain and set aside to cool. Any pasta is fine – shells, macaroni or penne work great. Once cool, grate the carrot and add to the pasta. Add the peas to the pasta as well as the onion and parmesan cheese.
- In a separate bowl, mix dressing mix and mayo together with a whisk. Whisking vigorously, pour the milk into the mayo little by little, whisking until well combined and creamy. Pour the dressing mix over the pasta and mix well with a large spoon. Salt and pepper to taste. Cool in fridge for an hour before serving. If taking to an outdoor event – keep cool until ready to serve and place any leftovers immediately in the fridge.
Notes
- This pasta sald is super versatile and you can make it one of your favorite recipes by adding your favorite veggies and seasonings like sweet peas, red bell pepper, bacon bits, black pepper, juicy tomatoes, fresh corn and more!
- Always cook the pasta to al dente, it will soften more as it sits in the refrigerator waiting to go to the summer bbqs!
- For an Italian pasta salad, you'll need to add an olive oil type dressing instead of a ranch and mayo dressing.
- Use any type of pasta you prefer like spiral pasta, rotini pasta, macaroni pasta or penne pasta, its completely a personal preference.
Nutrition
This article has been updated from the original that was posted on April 6, 2015. Don't you think it's super helpful now?
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Psalms 11:5
The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Loretta says
What do you use instead of the ranch packet, that has milk products in it... my son can not eat any milk products... 🙁 it looks delish though!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Loretta. I have never made this without the ranch but my daughter who has done quite a bit of vegan - tells me you can use "just mayo" vegan mayo. For the dry ranch packet you can use onion powder, garlic powder, onion flakes, dried parsley, dried dill, dried thyme, black pepper, dried chives and salt or simply use a bottle of vegan ranch dressing - daiya brand is good she says.
Moxie says
wow!
kari says
Thanks so much for this recipe! I really appreciate you giving a vegan option. I am not vegan but am trying to make better choices so its nice to see the options listed. I just found your website from pinterest and am excited to start trying these recipes.
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Wendi Spraker says
Hey Kari! Thank you SO MICH for leaving a comment. I'm so glad to have you stopping by. I was a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) for many years and can appreciate the issues. Have a great evening!!
Wendi Spraker says
This is what happens when you answer post comments via cell phone (fat fingers on a flat screen key board) while NOT wearing your glasses! What I meant was THANK YOU SO MUCH! MUCH! I have no idea who Mich is!