Ranch Pasta Salad with Bacon
Creamy, savory, and loaded with vibrant flavors, this Ranch Pasta Salad with Bacon is the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish for any occasion. Tender pasta is tossed with crisp crumbled bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, refreshing cucumber, tangy red onion, and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese for a medley of delightful textures. The star of the dish is the rich and zesty dressing, a perfect blend of creamy ranch and mayonnaise, with a hint of seasoning for a balanced kick. This easy-to-make pasta salad comes together in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for potlucks, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Chill it to perfection and top with fresh parsley for a gourmet finish—your summer table just found its new star! Keywords: Ranch Pasta Salad, Bacon Pasta Salad, Summer Side Dish, Easy Pasta Salad Recipe.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta (rotini or penne)
- 6 slices Bacon
- 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber (diced)
- 0.5 small Red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Ranch dressing
- 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Parsley (chopped, optional for garnish)
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove from the pan, drain on paper towels, and crumble once cooled.
While the pasta and bacon cook, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and finely chop the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and shredded cheddar cheese.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing and mayonnaise. Add the salt and black pepper, adjusting to taste.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Stir until evenly coated.
Add the crumbled bacon and gently stir to combine.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
478 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 39.4 g | 50% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.5 g | 47% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 49 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 847 mg | 37% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22.2 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.8 g | 6% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.5 g | ||
| Protein | 12.3 g | 25% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 182 mg | 14% | |
| Iron | 1.1 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 218 mg | 5% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
