Description
This Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad is a perfect summer side dish, featuring crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and a smooth ranch and sour cream dressing. It’s a crowd-pleasing, make-ahead dish ideal for BBQs, potlucks, or casual dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini or shell pasta
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 lb bacon, cooked and chopped
- ½ cup green onions, finely chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and place in a large bowl to cool slightly.
- While pasta cools, bake bacon until crispy. Let cool, then chop into small pieces.
- In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and ranch dressing until smooth.
- Once pasta is warm, add half of the bacon, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions. Stir to combine.
- Pour the ranch-sour cream dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.
- Just before serving, sprinkle the remaining bacon on top. Garnish with additional green onions if desired.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- This salad gets better as it chills, making it ideal for prepping ahead.
- For best results, add the final bacon topping just before serving to maintain crunch.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
- If the salad seems dry, stir in a spoonful or two of extra ranch dressing before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Cook and Mix
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 474 kcal