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Packed with bold flavor and fresh crunch, this bacon ranch pasta salad is a must for potlucks, barbecues or easy weeknight dinners. It combines tender pasta with crisp vegetables, smoky bacon and a creamy ranch dressing for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing side dish or light main. With only a few minutes of prep and an optional chill for even more flavor, this recipe is as simple as it is tasty. It’s always a big hit and, of course, bacon makes it extra delicious!
This bacon ranch pasta salad blends creamy dressing, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables and perfect al dente pasta for a quick, flavorful dish that’s perfect for any gathering.
You might also like seafood pasta salad, coleslaw pasta salad, BLT pasta salad, or this chicken Caesar pasta salad.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Simple prep and everyday ingredients make this a quick go-to recipe.
Bold flavor: The combo of ranch, bacon and fresh veggies is always a winner.
Customizable: You can swap the pasta, veggies or protein to match your taste.
Perfect for sharing: Great for picnics, potlucks or family meals.
Make-ahead friendly: Tastes even better after a short chill in the fridge.
Bacon Pasta Salad Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pasta: Holds dressing well and adds a fun texture.
Mayonnaise: Provides creaminess and richness to the dressing.
Sour cream: Adds tang and softens the richness of the mayo.
Black olives: Sliced black olives offer salty, briny flavor and color contrast.
Red onions: Add sharpness and crunch to balance the creamy dressing.
Ranch dressing mix: Delivers that classic herb-filled ranch taste.
Cherry tomatoes: Give a juicy, slightly sweet burst in every bite.
Broccoli: Adds crunch, color and extra nutrients.
Cucumber: Brings a cool, crisp texture to the salad.
Red bell pepper: Adds sweetness and vibrant color.
Crumbled bacon: Adds smoky, salty crunch to round out the flavors.
Parsley: Optional garnish for a pop of color and freshness.
How to Make Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
Combine the salad: In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta with broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes, bacon, bell pepper, olives and onions.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch mix, salt, and black pepper.
Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Chill and serve: Garnish with parsley if liked, and serve immediately or refrigerate for an hour to let flavors develop.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free version: Use gluten-free pasta and check your ranch seasoning mix is gluten-free (I used the Hidden Valley mix, which is free from gluten).
Mayonnaise: Use full-fat or reduced-fat mayo, Miracle Whip or another dressing. You could use spicy mayo in place of the regular mayo. Or, if you’re in a rush, bottled ranch in place of the homemade dressing.
Cherry tomatoes: Substitute grape tomatoes.
Vegetarian option: Skip the bacon or substitute a vegetarian protein like beans or tofu instead.
Use another pasta shape: I used rotini but bowtie, fusilli, elbow macaroni, and penne all work well.
Swap the bacon: Try turkey bacon, beef bacon or another protein like chopped steak, shrimp or chicken.
Add more veggies: Mix in red and green peppers, shredded carrots, thawed frozen peas, green onion, or radishes.
Include cheese: Cubed cheese would be good, perhaps sharp cheddar cheese or pepper jack.
More herbs: Include chopped fresh dill weed or parsley.
More crunch: Include French fried onions or bacon bits.
Adjust the dressing: Whisk in milk to thin it, or use less dressing and save extra for later.
Serving Suggestions
With meat or chicken: Bacon ranch pasta salad makes a great side for Italian steak, roasted chicken or honey garlic pork chops.
With fish: Try it with pistachio-crusted salmon or scallop skewers.
As part of a buffet: Other dishes to serve with this salad include rice paper samosas, Cajun shrimp deviled eggs or some of these warm appetizers.
How to Store Ranch Pasta Salad
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 to 4 days. It does start to dry out in the fridge, so you might need to mix in a little dressing before serving (I like to mix in most of the dressing when I first prepare the salad, saving the rest of the dressing to add in the next day or whenever I serve it again).
Freeze: This salad isn’t suitable for freezing.
Top Tips
Cook the pasta slightly beyond al dente: This helps it stay tender after chilling.
Rinse pasta in cold water: Stops the cooking process and prevents sogginess.
Let it chill: If time allows, refrigerate for at least one hour to help the flavors blend.
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad FAQs
You can adjust to taste. Start with most of it and add more if needed.
Mix in a tablespoon or two of milk.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Pot Large
Ingredients
- 12 Ounces rotini, or fusilli, dried
- 1 Cup mayonnaise
- 1 Cup sour cream
- ½ Cup black olives, pitted and sliced
- ½ Cup red onions, chopped
- 1 Package ranch dressing mix, 1-Ounce
- 1 Cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 Cup broccoli florets
- 1 Cup cucumber, diced
- 1 Cup red bell pepper, diced
- 10 Slices bacon, cooked and chopped
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- parsley, fresh, optional garnish
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook following the package directions.
- Drain the pasta then rinse under cold water and put it in a large bowl.
- Add the broccoli, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bacon, bell pepper, black olives, and onions.
- Whisk the mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, sour cream, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to mix.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if liked, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or more to allow the pasta to better soak up the salad flavors.
Notes
Rinse pasta in cold water: Stops the cooking process and prevents sogginess.
Let it chill: If time allows, refrigerate for at least one hour to help the flavors blend.
Nutrition
This super easy recipe for bacon ranch pasta salad is everything you’d want in a cold pasta dish. It’s creamy, crunchy, colorful and packed with bold flavor. It’s simple to make and easy to customize, which makes it perfect for sharing or prepping ahead. Whether served alongside grilled meats or enjoyed on its own, this recipe is sure to become a regular in your rotation. Once you taste that combo of ranch, bacon and fresh veggies, you’ll see why it’s such a favorite.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
