Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a perfect classic summer salad recipe with bold flavors and compliments almost every meal as a side dish. Perfect for large groups, this pasta salad folds in a variety of delicious veggies and tops with a creamy homemade ranch dressing that fully pairs with every delicious bite.

Summer is the time for salads – pasta salads, fruit salads, pretty much every salad ever makes its debut from May-August.

If you are looking for a traditional salad that packs a flavor punch, you cannot go wrong with this recipe for bacon ranch pasta salad. Ranch pasta salad recipe is not only filling, but has everyone’s favorite flavors from crispy bacon to creamy ranch and shredded cheddar cheese. 

BACON RANCH PASTA SALAD INGREDIENT LIST

Skip the made in a box salads and opt for a fresh, delicious and fan favorite that is so easy to make! A little pasta boiling and cutting up some delicious ingredients like grape tomatoes and bacon make for a surprisingly filling salad.

Here is the ingredient list. Once you have verified you have all ranch pasta salad ingredients, move on to learning how to make this perfect potluck pasta!

• box rotini pasta
• Hellmann’s Mayo
• 1 packet dry ranch dressing
• bacon, cooked and chopped
• pint grape tomatoes
• can black olives
• shredded cheddar cheese

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe

Like most cold pasta salads, add a little extra protein to make it a full on dinner! Try cold rotisserie chicken or grilling up some chicken breast, let cool, chop and top! Additionally, if you are running short on time, sliced up deli ham chunks or even turkey goes just fine for a more filling option. 

Time to make this pasta salad is only about 20-30 minutes (because of boiling pasta) plus refrigeration time (best served cold)

1. Boil a large saucepan of water. Add pasta and cook until done, about 9-11 minutes, but refer to back of your pasta box for detailed instructions.
2. Drain and rinse pasta with cold water.
3. In a bowl, stir together cooked pasta, tomatoes, drained olives, cut up and cooked bacon, shredded cheese, ranch seasoning and mix again very well, so you make sure all the flavors go from top to bottom of the bowl. 
4. Now add in your mayo and mix really well.
5. That’s it, SO EASY!! 
6. This pasta salad is best served cold, so put in fridge for 4 hours for best flavor, stirring well just before serving.

This is a fairly large salad, serving approximately 8-10 and makes a great party or picnic side dish salad.  If you need another salad recipe that is totally different and also BBQ friendly, add on some Pesto Pasta as well!

Can you use a different type of pasta in this salad?

Yes, absolutely. But remember that while most pastas are made of the same ingredients, changing the type of pasta changes how the flavors soak up and the actual bite tastes.

If I were to change this pasta from Rotini to something else, it would be a small spiral pasta or large pasta shells.

All that said, I still love Rotini for this set of flavors- my tri colored pasta salad with Italian Dressing, so good and an excellent choice if you need more dishes.

More Amazing Potluck Salad Recipes

Need a few more pasta salad recipes to go with this one? 

1. Shrimp Pesto Pasta Salad is a delicious gourmet side dish for holiday menus and potlucks, but is also a fantastic full sized dinner option with cheese tortellini and fresh bites of sautéed shrimp. You will LOVE this pasta salad and after one bite, will be sure to be a favorite!
2. Ready to feed a crowd, easy Tuna Pasta Salad  tastes even better the next day and perfect cold next to a juicy burger. 
3. This Vegetable Pasta Salad, a complete macaroni salad with crisp summer veggies, is a perfectly delicious side dish for your next picnic or party. 
4. BLT Pasta Salad – BLT Pasta Salad with mayo and ranch seasoning (making Ranch dressing) is the one salad that needs to make it to your BBQ picnics this year. With fresh tomatoes, crunchy bacon, and homemade ranch flavor, the only question you will have is why didn’t I make more!
5. Starting with bow tie chicken, Mandarin Salad with Chicken and tiny and sweet mandarin oranges and just the right amount of bow tie pasta, is a great spring salad full of flavor and textures. With a perfect delicious dressing and tiny slivers of almonds that bring an end crunch, you cannot go wrong with this salad at this years BBQ. 

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Yield: 8 people

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

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Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a perfect classic summer salad recipe with bold flavors and compliments almost every meal as a side dish. Perfect for large groups, this potluck pasta salad folds in a variety of delicious veggies, yummy bits of bacon and tops with a creamy homemade ranch dressing that fully pairs with every delicious bite.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Chill 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package, 8 oz, rotini pasta
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 packet, 1 oz, dry ranch dressing
• 10 slices, bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 pint, grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 can, 3.8 oz, black olives, drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Boil a large saucepan of water. Add pasta and cook until done, about 9-11 minutes.
2. Drain and rinse pasta with cold water.
3. Make sure pasta is cool before making the salad (or it can melt the mayo)
4. In a bowl, stir in cooked pasta, tomatoes, drained olives, cut up and cooked bacon, shredded cheese, ranch seasoning and mix again very well, making sure all the flavors go from top to bottom of the bowl and cover all the pasta and veggies. 
5. Add in your mayo and mix really well.
6. This pasta is best served cold, so put in fridge for 4 hours for best flavor, stirring well just before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

8 people
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 394Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 642mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 11g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated with ingredients and serving size and may not be accurate. Please always double check with your own nutritional apps as well.

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