Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This bacon ranch pasta salad is creamy, flavorful, and loaded with bacon, cheese, and ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks and BBQs!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 670kcal
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz box of rotini pasta
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 1 oz packet of ranch dressing seasoning mix
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup whole milk
- 10 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 1 large tomato diced
- 1 4oz can sliced black olives
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese grated
- salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, and milk and whisk to combine.
- Add remaining ingredients and gently stir to combine. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
Cook pasta al dente: This prevents it from becoming mushy after chilling.
Cool the pasta completely: Warm pasta can thin out the dressing.
Use crispy bacon: Soft bacon won’t give the same texture.
Chill before serving: This step is key for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 670kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1153mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 612IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 209mg | Iron: 1mg