Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable)
Creamy pasta salad with crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch—perfect for cookouts.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or elbow macaroni
→ Dairy & Dressings
02 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup sour cream
04 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
05 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
→ Proteins
06 - 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
→ Vegetables
07 - 2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
08 - 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin
→ For Garnish (Optional)
09 - Extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions
# Directions:
01 - Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold running water to halt cooking and remove excess starch. Transfer to a large bowl and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning packet until completely smooth and well combined. Set aside.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over cooled pasta. Add shredded sharp cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, thawed peas, and sliced green onions. Gently fold everything together until evenly distributed.
04 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow flavors to fully develop and merge. The salad tastes best when served chilled.
05 - Before serving, sprinkle generously with additional crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar, and sliced green onions if desired. Serve cold as a side dish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy ranch dressing clings to every twist of pasta, while crispy bacon adds this irresistible crunch that keeps you reaching for just one more forkful
- It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors have time to hang out together in the fridge
02 -
- Hot pasta will melt your cheese into a weird gloppy mess, so do not rush the cooling step
- The salad will absorb some dressing as it sits, so it might seem slightly loose when you first mix it
03 -
- Cook your bacon in the oven at 400F for 15 minutes to get perfectly crispy results without all the stovetop mess
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed and nobody will notice the difference