Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad: Your New BBQ Essential! Recipe
This Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad is a perfect blend of creamy, cheesy, and smoky flavors, making it an essential side dish for your BBQs or casual gatherings. Featuring al dente rotini pasta tossed with a tangy ranch dressing and loaded with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and fresh green onions, this salad is deliciously satisfying and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini pasta (or elbow macaroni, or shells)
Dressing
- 1 cup sour cream (adjust based on creaminess preference)
- ½ cup liquid ranch dressing (or substitute with homemade ranch)
Add-ins
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (grated fresh for better flavor)
- 6 slices bacon (cooked until crispy)
- ¼ cup green onions (chopped; chives are an alternative)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Boil your choice of pasta in salted water until al dente, typically about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large bowl to cool.
- Cook Bacon: Arrange bacon slices on a sheet pan and bake in the oven at 400°F for approximately 25 minutes or until crispy. Once cooled, chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and liquid ranch dressing until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Combine Ingredients: When the pasta is just warm (not hot), add the chopped green onions, grated cheddar cheese, and half of the chopped crispy bacon to the bowl. Stir gently to combine evenly.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the creamy ranch dressing over the pasta mixture and toss thoroughly until every piece is coated with dressing.
- Chill: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Before serving, sprinkle the remaining bacon pieces on top to add a crunchy texture and extra smoky flavor.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheddar cheese for the best flavor and melting texture.
- Adjust the amount of sour cream and ranch dressing based on your preferred creaminess.
- Chilling the salad enhances the flavor and allows the dressing to fully coat the pasta.
- Can substitute green onions with chives for a milder onion flavor.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure the ranch dressing is gluten-free.
- Best served chilled but can be served at room temperature if needed.
Keywords: bacon cheddar ranch pasta salad, BBQ pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, pasta salad with ranch dressing
