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Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

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This creamy bacon ranch pasta salad is a crowd-pleasing, easy-to-make side dish packed with crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and a homemade ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or busy weeknights, it comes together in under 30 minutes and is endlessly customizable.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz pasta shells or rotini
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup sweet corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed from frozen)
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk (or milk)
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta shells and cook until just al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  2. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to cool quickly and stop cooking. Let it sit to drain off excess water.
  3. While pasta cooks, lay out bacon in a cold skillet. Turn heat to medium and cook until golden and crispy, about 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then chop into bite-size pieces.
  4. Dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, and chop red onion. If onion is strong, soak in cold water for 5 minutes and drain. Measure cheddar cheese, corn kernels, and chop fresh parsley.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and buttermilk. Add ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir in chopped chives, if using. Taste and adjust seasoning as preferred.
  6. In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, chopped bacon, veggies, cheese, and parsley. Pour in ranch dressing and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours) to let flavors meld.
  8. Just before serving, give it a gentle stir and top with extra bacon or parsley if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use chickpea or rice pasta. For vegetarian, skip bacon and add roasted chickpeas or extra cheese. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes for best flavor. If salad dries out, stir in a spoonful of ranch or splash of milk before serving. Bacon can be cooked in the oven for less mess and more crunch. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, bacon ranch, creamy, potluck, easy, summer, picnic, side dish, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/creamy-bacon-ranch-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-potluck-side-dish/