Creamy BLT Ranch Pasta Salad
A creamy, flavorful pasta salad featuring crispy bacon, fresh cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing, perfect as a summer side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 pint (about 2 cups) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water to cool. Set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook 8 slices of thick-cut bacon until crispy, about 7-10 minutes, flipping occasionally. Drain on paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Halve cherry tomatoes, finely dice red onion, chop parsley, and shred cheddar cheese if not pre-shredded.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Add warm (not hot) pasta to the dressing and stir gently to coat. Fold in bacon, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cheddar cheese, and parsley. Toss carefully to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, being cautious as bacon and ranch add saltiness.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and salad thicken.
- Before serving, stir gently. Add a splash of milk or extra ranch dressing if needed to loosen the salad.
Notes
Do not overcook pasta; al dente texture is best. Add bacon last to keep it crispy. Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes improves flavor and texture. For a lighter dressing, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. For dairy-free or vegan versions, use dairy-free ranch, vegan bacon, and vegan cheese. If salad thickens too much after chilling, add a splash of milk or ranch dressing before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup (200 gra
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: BLT pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, ranch pasta salad, summer side dish, easy pasta salad