Description

This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a delightful blend of flavors, featuring rotini pasta, crispy bacon, creamy ranch dressing, and fresh vegetables. Perfect for quick meals or gatherings, it’s both satisfying and straightforward to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale

16 ounce box of dry rotini pasta
water for cooking the pasta
½ cup sour cream (regular or light)
¼ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup dairy milk (whole or 2%)
1 ounce package dry ranch dressing/seasoning mix
8 slices cooked bacon, chopped
6 ounces cheese (like cheddar), cut into small cubes
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
10 ounces frozen peas, thawed
3.8 ounce can sliced black olives
salt and pepper to taste
optional: ½ teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

Cook the pasta by boiling a large pot of water and adding the rotini. Prepare according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water, then set aside to cool.
Chop the bacon, tomatoes, and cheese while the pasta cooks. Rinse the peas under cold water to thaw them and set aside with the other ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, and dry ranch seasoning mix. Whisk until smooth and uniform to create the dressing.
Toss the cooled pasta with the ranch dressing until evenly coated.
Fold in the chopped bacon, cheese cubes, and peas. Gently add the halved cherry tomatoes and black olives until well mixed.
Taste the salad and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if desired.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.
Before serving, stir the pasta salad and add a splash of milk if it appears dry.

Notes

For best flavor, let the salad chill for a couple of hours before serving.
Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or add more bacon for extra flavor.
This salad can be made a day in advance; it keeps well in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 350
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 14g
Cholesterol: 30mg