Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Creamy ranch-bacon pasta salad with crunchy veggies and bold flavors, ready in 25 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta

→ Dressing

02 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
03 - 1/2 cup sour cream
04 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, as needed

→ Veggies and Add-ins

06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup yellow or red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon bits or vegetarian alternative
10 - 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

# How to Make:

01 - Boil rotini or penne in generously salted water until al dente, following package directions. Drain in a colander, rinse under cold running water, and spread on a tray to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch seasoning mix until smooth. Stir in 1 tablespoon of milk, adding a second tablespoon if a thinner consistency is preferred.
03 - Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and toss thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated.
04 - Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes, diced bell pepper, shredded cheddar, bacon bits, sliced green onions, and thawed peas, taking care not to crush the tomatoes.
05 - Mix until all components are evenly distributed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than deciding what to watch on TV
  • The dressing is the kind of thing you will want to spoon straight from the bowl
02 -
  • Serving this warm is a completely different experience and not in a good way so do not skip the chilling step
  • The dressing thickens in the fridge so plan to stir in an extra splash of milk right before serving
03 -
  • Pat the thawed peas dry before adding them so they do not water down the dressing
  • Use the sharpest cheddar you can find because mild cheese disappears completely in this much cream

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