Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

pasta salad ingredients with ranch dressing, bacon, tomatoes, green onions, peas, tomatoes, and cheese in clear mixing bowl

4.91 from 11 votes

Creamy homemade ranch dressing coats every bite of pasta and vegetables in this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Sprinkled throughout with bacon and cheddar cheese, you're sure to love it!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Author: Mary Younkin

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

8 ounces bacon cooked and crumbled
8 ounces pasta shells
8 ounces frozen peas thawed, about 1½ cups
6 ounces grape tomatoes about 1 cup, halved
4 ounces cheddar or Colby jack cheese about ¾ cup shredded
¼ cup green onion thinly sliced
chopped avocado for topping OPTIONAL

Dressing Ingredients

½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon dried chives
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon onion powder
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon warm bacon grease plus more to taste

Instructions

Cook the Bacon

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil. (The foil is not required, but it does make cleanup very simple.) Spread the bacon strips out across the pan.
Place the tray of bacon on the middle oven rack. Set a timer for 16 minutes to check the bacon. Depending on the thickness of the bacon, it might take as long as 20-22 minutes.
Remove it from the oven when it is as crisp or crunchy as you like. Use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease for the dressing. Let the bacon cool while assembling the rest of the salad.

Make the Salad

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. When the pasta is tender, rinse well with cold water. While the pasta is cooking, rinse the peas to thaw them.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, dill, parsley, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the lemon juice, taste, and add more lemon if desired. Whisk in the bacon grease. Taste and add additional bacon grease for added smoky bacon flavor.
Add the peas, cooked pasta, tomatoes, cheese, bacon, and green onion to the mixing bowl with the dressing. Stir gently to coat all the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving.

Notes

This recipe multiplies nicely for a crowd. ½ cup of ranch dressing may be substituted for the dressing listed in this recipe. Simply stir the bacon grease into the prepared ranch dressing and continue with the recipe.

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