Description

This Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad is a creamy, flavorful side dish perfect for potlucks and family dinners. Featuring rotini pasta tossed in a zesty ranch dressing with sharp cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, and green onions, it offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes. Chilled to perfection, this salad is easy to make ahead and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

12 ounces rotini pasta
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salt to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
Prepare the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ranch dressing, mayonnaise, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir until smooth and evenly mixed to create the creamy base for the salad.
Toss the Salad: Add the cooled pasta to the dressing mixture and stir until all the pasta is thoroughly coated. Then gently fold in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced green onions, mixing until evenly distributed without breaking the ingredients.
Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour. This resting time allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Before serving, stir the salad once more to redistribute the dressing and ingredients evenly.

Notes

For extra crunch and added freshness, consider adding diced cucumber or red bell pepper.
This pasta salad can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator, making it convenient for meal prep or entertaining.
If the salad appears dry after chilling, stir in a little extra ranch dressing before serving.