Description
A creamy, smoky, and refreshing pasta salad perfect for summer BBQs, featuring bacon, ranch dressing, and hearty rotini pasta.
Ingredients
For the pasta salad
- 8 oz rotini pasta (or shells/bowties)
- 6 slices bacon (cooked until crisp and crumbled)
- 1 cup ranch dressing (store bought or homemade)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar preferred)
- 1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 cup peas (optional for color and sweetness)
- to taste salt and pepper (lightly, as bacon and ranch are salty)
Optional add-ins
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1 each diced jalapenos (for heat)
Instructions
Preparation
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted water until just tender; do not overcook, as it will soften more in the fridge.
- Drain and rinse the pasta with cool water until it is no longer hot. Shake off extra water well.
- Cook the bacon until crisp, then drain on paper towels and crumble.
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta with ranch dressing, starting with less than you think you need, then adding more as needed.
- Stir in the cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, red onion, peas, and any optional add-ins you prefer.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
To prevent the pasta salad from becoming dry, reserve some ranch dressing to stir in just before serving. To prevent it from becoming soggy, add juicy veggies like tomatoes or cucumbers closer to serving time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American