My Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is perfect for a summer side, easy to prepare in advance, and packed with delicious ingredients. Tri-colored pasta mixed with bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and green onion in a creamy ranch sauce.
Cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch is a favorite flavor combination in our house. I like to use it to flavor burgers, chicken, and mac & cheese. However, one of my new favorites is as a pasta salad.
Summer is all about easy meals and easy side dishes for me. I also love anything I can use for lunches the next day.
My Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is fantastic because it is easy to put together and the flavors are delicious. I like to add tomatoes, green onion, and black olives to my pasta salad, but you can always skip the mix-ins or add different ones that you prefer.
This pasta salad is delicious as a side dish, but is hearty enough for a meal. This recipe makes 8 servings as a side dish, and 4 serving if you are enjoying it as the main dish.
Ingredients
- tri- colored rotini -Any shaped pasta will work well in Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. I prefer rotini because it holds the sauce to the pasta well.
- Mayo
- sour cream - A great substitute is Greek yogurt!
- ranch seasoning packet
- cooked bacon- Buying the pre-cooked bacon and microwaving it is a big time (and mess) saver!
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sliced black olives
- green onion - Red onion is a great alternative to green onion.
- cherry tomatoes - Regular sized tomatoes work fine, but cut them to size of a halved cherry tomato.
- black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- While pasta is cooking, whisk together mayo, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and pepper. Set aside.
- Drain cooked pasta and rinse to cool.
- Place pasta in a large bowl. Once noodles have cooled, gently mix in the ranch sauce.
- Next, mix in the tomatoes, olives, cheese, onion, and bacon. Reserve a small portion or bacon for topping, if desired.
- Cover Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Looking For More Delicious Pasta Salads?
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad with Ham
Mom's Linguine Salad from Family Around the Table
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Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 oz tri- colored rotini
- ⅔ cup Mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 oz ranch seasoning packet
- 8 slices cooked bacon chopped
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ¼ cup chopped green onion
- ½ cup quartered cherry tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- While pasta is cooking, whisk together Mayo, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and pepper. Set aside.
- Drain cooked pasta and rinse to cool.
- Place pasta in a large bowl. Once noodles have cooled, gently mix in the ranch sauce.
- Next, mix in the tomatoes, olives, cheese, onion, and bacon. Reserve a small portion or bacon for topping, if desired.
- Cover and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
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