This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is the kind of dish that disappears in minutes at every cookout, potluck, and backyard barbecue you bring it to. Get ready to fall head over heels for a pasta salad that has everything going for it: smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and that irresistible tang of ranch dressing coating every single noodle.

Since it chills in the fridge before serving, it is the perfect make-ahead dish that frees you up to actually enjoy your gathering instead of being stuck in the kitchen. Whether you are feeding a crowd or just meal prepping for the week, this salad is guaranteed to earn a permanent spot in your recipe rotation.

Helpful Tips

Cook your pasta just to al dente: Rotini that is slightly firm holds its shape much better once it is tossed with the creamy dressing and chilled, so avoid overcooking it or you will end up with mushy noodles.
Cool the pasta before mixing: Let your cooked rotini cool completely before adding the dressing, since warm pasta can cause the mayonnaise and yogurt to thin out and separate.
Give it time to chill: While an hour in the fridge works in a pinch, letting this salad chill overnight allows the ranch flavor to really soak into every noodle for an even better bite the next day.

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Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad has smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and that irresistible tang of ranch dressing coating every single noodle.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Chill Time 1

Total Time 1 25

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings Servings

Calories 473 kcal

Ingredients

12 ounces tri-color rotini pasta
8 slices bacon
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
3 tablespoons dry ranch salad dressing mix
2 tablespoons milk or as needed to thin
1 large tomato chopped
4 ounce can sliced black olives
1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
2 green onions chopped

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini according to the package just to al dente. Drain and let cool.
Place bacon in the air fryer, oven, or a skillet and cook until browned and crisp. Drain on a paper towel. Then chop into pieces.
Mix mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, and milk together in a large bowl.
Place rotini, bacon, tomato, black olives, and cheese in a bowl and toss to coat with dressing.
Cover and chill at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 980mgPotassium: 226mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 468IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 141mgIron: 1mg

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