Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Tender pasta, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and crunchy vegetables get tossed in a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing -- the pasta salad that disappears fastest at every potluck.
Why You'll Love This
- A guaranteed crowd-pleaser at potlucks and barbecues
- Homemade ranch dressing beats anything from a bottle
- Make it a day ahead for even better flavor
Ingredients
- 1 lbrotini or fusilli pasta
- 2 tbspsalt, for pasta water
- 8 slicesbacon
- 1 cupmayonnaise
- 1/2 cupbuttermilk
- 2 tbspchopped fresh chives
- 1 tbspchopped fresh dill
- 1 clovegarlic, minced
- 1/2 tsponion powder
- 1/2 tspsalt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 tspblack pepper
- 1 cupshredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cupcherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cupdiced English cucumber
Nutrition (estimated per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate calculated from the ingredients listed and will vary based on the specific products used. It is not a substitute for advice from a nutrition professional.
Method
- Bring a 6-quart pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat and add 2 tbsp salt.
The rest of this recipe is for members
Join Krista Denio Membership to unlock all 12 steps of this recipe, plus 105 more members-only recipes.
You Might Also Like
Creamy Classic Potato Salad
Tender potatoes, crunchy celery, and hard-boiled eggs coated in a tangy mayonnaise dressing -- this is the ...
Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
Chewy farro, caramelized roasted squash, toasted pecans, and tangy goat cheese come together with a maple-s...
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans
Sweet strawberries, crunchy homemade candied pecans, and creamy goat cheese over tender baby spinach make t...
Classic Cobb Salad
Neat rows of chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, tomato, and blue cheese make this composed salad as pretty as it...