Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad
This is one of those summer BBQ dishes that will have everyone asking you for the recipe! With all the classic flavors of creamy ranch dressing, salty bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese, this pasta salad is a refreshing crowd pleaser that can be thrown together in less than 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup liquid ranch dressing
- 6 oz cheddar cheese (grated)
- 1 lb bacon
- ½ cup green onions (chopped)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and place in a large bowl to cool.
- Cook bacon in the oven at 400º for 25 minutes. Chop.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and ranch dressing.
- When the pasta has cooled, but is still warm, add green onions, cheese, and ½ of the bacon mix to combine. Pour dressing over the warm pasta and stir to coat the pasta. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Prior to serving add the remaining bacon to the top and serve cold or at room temperature.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Add the dressing to warm, not hot pasta.
- Don't overcook the pasta, it should have a little bite to it.
- Wait to add all the bacon until just before serving so that it's still crispy.
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 422mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 1mg
