Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This creamy bacon ranch pasta salad combines crispy bacon, al dente pasta, and a homemade ranch dressing for the ultimate side dish! Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and summer gatherings.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 446kcal
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad:
- 1 pound pasta such as penne, fusilli, or rotini
- 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onion
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- COOK: Boil pasta in a large pot of lightly salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.1 pound pasta
- PREPARE: While pasta cooks, cook bacon until crispy using your preferred method. Drain on paper towels, then crumble when cool.8 slices bacon
- MIX: In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ranch dressing, sour cream, and garlic powder until smooth and creamy.½ cup ranch dressing, ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- COMBINE: Add cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, red onion, and chives to the dressing. Gently fold everything together until evenly coated.1 cup cheddar cheese, ¼ cup red onion, 2 tablespoons fresh chives or green onion
- CHILL: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Stir well and adjust seasoning if needed before serving. Garnish with fresh chives if desired before serving. Enjoy!salt and pepper
Notes
- For best flavor, cook pasta just until al dente - it will continue to absorb the dressing as it sits.
- Make sure to rinse pasta with cold water to stop cooking and remove excess starch.
- The salad can be made up to 2 days ahead - reserve some dressing to refresh before serving.
- Add extra ranch dressing ifthe pasta salad seems dry after chilling.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.
- This recipe doubles easily for larger gatherings.
Nutrition
Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 342mg | Potassium: 170mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 126mg | Iron: 1mg
