Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Packed with bacon, veggies, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing, this bacon ranch pasta salad is a must for your next cookout.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces cooked bacon chopped
- 12 ounces cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- ½ cup diced roasted red peppers
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sliced green onions plus more for garnish
- ¼ to ⅓ cup sliced green or black olives optional
For the dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. When done, drain the pasta. Rinse with cold water, drain well, and toss with the olive oil. Set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, bacon, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, cheese, green onions and olives (if using). Add the dressing and toss to combine. Taste for seasoning, adding additional salt or pepper to taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Notes
You can swap the cherry tomatoes for 1 large tomato, diced.