Description
Creamy bacon ranch pasta salad delivers classic summer cookout flavors with crisp bacon bits and tangy dressing. Ranch seasoning and sharp cheddar cheese elevate this crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll want to bring to potlucks and picnics.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) rotini or bowtie pasta
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup (120 g) diced cucumber
- ½ cup (75 g) diced red onion
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped green onions or parsley (optional)
- 1 cup (240 ml) ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional, for freshness)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil water generously salted, cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool noodles quickly.
- Dressing Creation: Whisk ranch, sour cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into a smooth, tangy sauce. Adjust seasoning to taste for balanced flavor profile.
- Ingredient Assembly: In a large mixing bowl, combine chilled pasta with cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese cubes, cucumber chunks, red onion slivers, and crumbled bacon. These components create a vibrant and textural base.
- Dressing Integration: Pour prepared ranch dressing over the pasta mixture. Gently fold and toss to ensure every ingredient is thoroughly and evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Chilling and Serving: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Before serving, optionally garnish with chopped green onions or parsley for added color and fresh herbaceous notes.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Strictly monitor pasta during boiling to maintain al dente texture, testing a piece every minute to ensure perfect tenderness without becoming mushy.
- Balance Ranch Dressing: Customize ranch mixture by adjusting sour cream and lemon juice ratios to achieve desired tanginess and creaminess that complements other ingredients.
- Chill for Enhanced Flavor: Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes to allow ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more integrated taste profiles.
- Bacon Crispness Tip: Crumble bacon just before mixing to maintain maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy texture in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg