Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable)

Creamy ranch-bacon pasta salad with crunchy veggies and cheddar, ready in 25 minutes.

# What you'll need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta

→ Dressing

02 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
05 - 1–2 tbsp milk, as needed to loosen

→ 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 (or vegetarian alternative)
10 - 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

# Directions:

01 - Boil rotini or penne in generously salted water until al dente, following package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold running water to halt 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; add a second tablespoon if a thinner consistency is preferred.
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. Mix until evenly distributed throughout the salad.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust salt or pepper as needed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The ranch bacon combo hits that same craveable note as the best dip you have ever had but in salad form
  • It comes together faster than you can set the table which makes it perfect for last minute gatherings
02 -
  • Serving this at room temperature is fine but chilling it first makes the dressing cling better and taste more cohesive
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water stops the cooking instantly and washes off starch that would make the salad gummy
03 -
  • Use a box grater for the cheddar instead of buying pre shredded because the anti caking coating on bagged cheese prevents it from melting into the dressing properly
  • Pat the thawed peas dry with a paper towel before adding them so they do not water down your creamy dressing

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