Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
This creamy ranch pasta salad is loaded with bacon, peas, and cheddar cheese tossed in a rich homemade ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and summer parties.
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Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 10 ounces rotini
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 10 slices bacon sliced into 2-inch pieces
- 1 1/2 cup frozen peas
- 8 ounces smoked cheddar cheese cubed
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cubed
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
Instructions
- Boil 10 ounces of rotini following package instructions.
- While the pasta cooks, mix 1/2 cup mayo. 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stick the dressing in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the salad.
- When the pasta is done, drain it and spread it on a baking sheet to cool. Place 1 1/2 cups frozen peas in a fine mesh strainer and run them under cold water to thaw them.
- Cook 10 slices of bacon in a large pan until crispy, about ten minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan and place the slices on a plate lined with paper towels. Once cool enough to handle, roughly chop it.
- Place the pasta, peas, bacon, cheese, and parsley in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and stir to combine. Chill the salad until you are ready to serve it.
Notes
I like the spiral-shaped pasta, but feel free to use another short pasta like penne, bow ties, orecchiette, or cavatappi.
For the best creamy pasta salad, ensure the pasta is at room temperature before mixing it with the dressing. You can speed this up and chill the pasta on the sheet pan in the refrigerator so it's cold when you mix it up with the dressing.
This salad is heavy on cheese, so for a less cheesy experience (but why, though?), you can halve the amount and use one kind (tip: pick the smoked cheddar).
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 848mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 980IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 447mg | Iron: 1mg
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