Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

A creamy, savory, and irresistible pasta salad that will be the star of your next barbecue or potluck. With crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a tangy ranch dressing, it is the ultimate comfort food side dish.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crowd-Pleaser: Combines the classic, universally loved flavors of bacon, cheddar, and ranch.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld in the fridge.
• Versatile: Serve it as a side for grilled meats or add grilled chicken to make it a hearty main course.

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

• Large pot for boiling pasta
• Colander
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Cutting board and chef's knife

Ingredients

• 1 lb Rotini or Penne Pasta
• 8 slices Thick-Cut Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
• 1.5 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese (cubed or shredded)
• 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
• 1/2 cup Black Olives (sliced)
• 1/3 cup Red Onion (finely diced)
• 3/4 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 1 packet (1 oz) Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix
• 1/4 cup Milk (to thin the dressing)
• 2 tbsp Fresh Chives or Parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Preparation

1. Boil the Pasta: In a large pot of heavily salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process, then set aside.
2. Crisp the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until perfectly crispy. Drain on paper towels, then chop or crumble into bite-sized pieces.
3. Whisk the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dry ranch seasoning, and milk until smooth and creamy.
4. Combine the Ingredients: Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing.
5. Toss to Coat: Gently fold all the ingredients together until the pasta and mix-ins are completely coated in the creamy ranch dressing.
6. Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors develop. Garnish with fresh chives or parsley just before serving.

Chef’s Pro Tips for Perfect Results

Rinse the Pasta: Unlike warm pasta dishes where you want the starch to help the sauce cling, you should always rinse pasta for cold salads. Rinsing stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch, preventing the pasta from clumping together in the fridge.

Nutritional Info