Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad: Easy 15-Minute Side
A quick and comforting cold pasta salad featuring rotini, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and a creamy ranch-mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or late-night cravings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rotini or penne pasta
- 12 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup creamy ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
- While pasta cooks, place bacon in a cold skillet and cook over medium-high heat until crispy (10-12 minutes). Transfer to paper towels to drain and cool completely, then crumble.
- Slice green onions and dice celery. Shred cheddar cheese if not already done.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing and mayonnaise until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, green onions, and celery to the dressing. Toss until pasta is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
Rinsing the pasta after boiling is crucial to remove starch and cool it down quickly. For best texture, add bacon just before serving if making ahead to maintain crunch. The salad tastes better after chilling for a few hours as the pasta absorbs the dressing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pasta salad, bacon ranch, creamy pasta salad, summer side dish, easy recipe, cold pasta salad, picnic food