Description
Sizzling bacon meets creamy ranch in this irresistible Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad that promises summer cookout perfection. Cool pasta, crispy bacon bits, and zesty dressing combine for a crowd-pleasing dish you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 g) rotini or bowtie pasta
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (120 g) diced cucumber
- ½ cup (75 g) diced red onion
Herbs and Garnish:
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped green onions or parsley (optional)
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, for freshness)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta foundation by submerging it in rapidly boiling, generously salted water. Cook until tender yet firm, then immediately shock in cold water to halt cooking and prevent clumping. Drain thoroughly.
- Craft the creamy dressing by whisking ranch, tangy sour cream, bright lemon juice, and seasoning until smooth and well-integrated. Taste and adjust flavor profile for balanced richness.
- Transform a spacious mixing vessel into a colorful canvas by layering cooked pasta with vibrant cherry tomatoes, sharp cheddar cubes, crisp cucumber slices, pungent red onion slivers, and crispy bacon fragments.
- Drench the pasta medley with prepared dressing, gently folding ingredients to ensure every morsel becomes luxuriously coated without breaking delicate components.
- Allow the salad to rest and marinate in refrigerator for a minimum of half an hour, enabling flavors to harmonize and deepen. Just before presenting, sprinkle fresh green onions or parsley for a bright, aromatic finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize the ranch dressing by mixing homemade or store-bought with Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version.
- Choose whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising taste.
- Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure even distribution and balanced flavor in every bite.
- Replace bacon with crispy chickpeas or tempeh bacon for vegetarian protein options that maintain a satisfying crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 484
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 711 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 49 mg