Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable)
A vibrant creamy pasta salad packed with bold flavors, crunchy veggies, and a savory ranch-bacon-cheese twist.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
→ Dressing
02 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1 packet (30 g) ranch seasoning mix
05 - 1 to 2 tbsp milk, to loosen as needed
→ Veggies and Add-ins
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup yellow or red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits or vegetarian alternative
10 - 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
# How-To Steps:
01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente according to package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold water to halt cooking, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and 1 tablespoon of milk until smooth. Stir in additional milk if a thinner consistency is preferred.
03 - Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and toss thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated.
04 - Gently fold in the cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, shredded cheddar, bacon bits, green onions, and thawed peas until uniformly distributed.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust salt, pepper, or additional ranch seasoning as needed.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together faster than you can set the table for a barbecue
- The flavor actually improves overnight so it is the ultimate make ahead side
02 -
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water is not optional because the residual heat will melt the cheese and turn the dressing oily if you skip it
- Waiting at least thirty minutes before serving is the difference between a good pasta salad and one people cannot stop eating
03 -
- Cook the bacon in the oven on a sheet pan at 400 degrees for twelve minutes for the most even crumbles with zero stovetop mess
- Toss the pasta with a teaspoon of olive oil right after rinsing if you are not dressing it immediately to prevent the spirals from sticking together