Move over Suddenly Pasta Salad. You don’t need it once you make this recipe! This Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser! Packed with crispy bacon, tender pasta, shredded cheese, and a rich, tangy ranch dressing, this easy side dish is perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and meal prep. Whether you’re serving it at a summer cookout or making it ahead for a quick weekday meal, this cool and refreshing pasta salad will be a guaranteed hit!
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This post was originally published in 2021. It has since been updated.
Why Readers Love This Recipe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This will be my new go to BBQ weekend side dish, and I will absolutely be coming back to this homemade ranch recipe. So easy and delicious.
~Shauna
What Type of Pasta to Use
The best types of pasta are short, sturdy shapes that hold onto the creamy dressing and mix-ins well. Here are the top choices:
- Rotini – The spiral shape traps dressing and bacon bits perfectly.
- Fusilli – Similar to rotini but slightly tighter curls for great texture.
- Penne – Holds its shape well and provides a nice bite.
- Bowtie (Farfalle) – Adds a fun shape and holds dressing well.
- Elbow Macaroni – A classic choice for pasta salads, especially for a creamier texture.
- Cavatappi – Corkscrew-shaped, giving great texture and surface area for the creaminess.
Ranch Seasoning
I like to use my Homemade Ranch Seasoning in this recipe. The store-bought packets include some processed ingredients I like to avoid. I feel like I’m better off simply making my own. It’s pretty easy. Feel free to use store-bought seasonings like Hidden Valley if you wish.
How to Make Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Exact measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Cook rotini in accordance with the package instructions.
- Rinse the rotini in cold water and pat dry.
- Add the rotini to your serving dish along with cucumbers, bacon, ranch seasoning, tomatoes, olives, shredded cheese, and spinach.
- Chill.
Additional Toppings and Ideas
- Chopped Broccoli
- Chopped Cauliflower
- Chopped Dill Pickles
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- Chicken Breast
- Shrimp
- Jalapenos
- Celery
- Red Peppers
- Green Peppers
- Creole Seasoning
- Cajun Seasoning
- Homemade BBQ Seasoning
How to Make it Vegetarian
Simply omit the bacon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The salad should not sit out for more than 2 hours at room temperature below 90 degrees. In hot weather above 90 degrees, 1 hour max before it becomes unsafe to eat. You can read the Food Safety Guidance from the FDA here.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is perfect for making ahead of time, and in fact, it often tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld together. It will last in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.
1 Day in Advance: Assemble the pasta salad without adding the bacon (it stays crispier this way). Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Up to 3 Days Ahead: The pasta salad can be made 2–3 days in advance, but keep in mind that the dressing may thicken over time. Stir in a splash of milk, mayo, sour cream, Greek yogurt or ranch dressing before serving to refresh the texture.
You can freeze it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. In general, mayo, yogurt, and sour cream do not freeze well and usually develops ice crystals.
Sure, if you want. Swap out the mayo or sour/cream Greek yogurt for equal parts ranch. I’m not a huge fan of the texture when salad dressing is used. I like for this pasta salad to be thick and creamy. The combination of Greek yogurt and mayo does that for me.
Yes, you can sub it for additional Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Pair This Dish with These Main Dishes
Air Fryer Ribs
Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Air Fryer Cheeseburgers
Air Fryer Catfish
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
How to Grill the Best Burgers
How to Grill Chicken Wings
More Salad and Side Dish Recipes
Southern Potato Salad
Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheese
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Easy Spaghetti Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Southern Coleslaw
More Ranch Recipes
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Keto Low Carb Ranch Dressing
Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings
Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Get a full listing of BBQ and Cookout Recipes here. Pair this with Traeger Smoked Bacon and Air Fryer Croutons.
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Want to save this recipe for later?
I’ll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 cup chopped cucumbers
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes Sliced in half. You can use any tomatoes.
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
Homemade Ranch Seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chives
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini in accordance with the package instructions.
- Rinse the rotini in cold water and pat dry.
- Add the rotini to your serving dish along with the remaining ingredients. Taste repeatedly and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Chill for a minimum of 1 hour. 2-3 hours is optimal.
Video
Notes
- Make this pasta salad yours! Load it up with the vegetables that you like.
- I’ve always made this dish for a crowd. Feel free to cut the recipe in half. You can cut the recipe in half by using half of the ingredients noted.
- You can double the recipe by using double the ingredients.
- If you use a seasoning packet, start with 3 tablespoons.
- If you like a wet pasta salad, then serving immediately after chilling the dish will work best for you. You may find that you need additional mayo or sour cream (Greek yogurt). Add additional to suit your taste and texture needs.
- You can omit the bacon to make the dish vegetarian.
- You can use whatever pasta you like. Anything will work, i.e. penne, linguine, etc.
- You can use ranch dressing if you wish. I’m not a huge fan of the texture when salad dressing is used. I like for this pasta salad to be thick and creamy. The combination of Greek yogurt and mayo does that for me. Use enough to suit your taste.
- Add additional seasoning to suit your taste if necessary.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Carissa
Saturday 2nd of July 2022
I’ve made this so many times so I’m going to review it again!! Everywhere I take this I get so many compliments so thank you for the staple pasta salad recipe that never goes unnoticed!
staysnatched
Thursday 7th of July 2022
I'm glad you enjoy it!
Felicia
Thursday 23rd of June 2022
Very easy to make and delicious! I used the veggies I had on hand. And I refreshed it by adding some Greek yogurt before serving. This one was a hit and it’s perfect for the extra hot days we’ve been having.
staysnatched
Friday 24th of June 2022
Wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it
ALICE
Wednesday 11th of May 2022
COLD PASTA SALAD TASTE SO GOOD, "MAKE YOU WANNA SLAP YO MOMMA!" MAKING MY OWN RANCH (THAT TASTE BETTER THAN ANY BOTTLED DRESSING) WAS A GAME CHANGER! I SUBBED REGULAR PASTA FOR A TRADER JOES BROWN RICE PASTA AND ADDED SOME BROCCOLI CAUSE I LOVE VEGGIES. SUPER SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS, I WILL DEF BE MAKING THIS AGAIN :)
staysnatched
Thursday 12th of May 2022
Glad to hear you will be making it again!
Nek C
Wednesday 20th of April 2022
When I told my family this is what we were having for dinner, they laughed and said they have NEVER heard of bacon ranch pasta salad. So I shut allll the talk down by going ahead and making it. The next thing I heard when they ate it was, ohhh we need that recipe, this is SO good, we gotta run this back. Sometimes you just have to prove people wrong! lol Thank you for the delicious meal, Brandi.
staysnatched
Monday 2nd of May 2022
You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Alyssa
Monday 11th of April 2022
Enjoying this pasta salad for lunches - I used chickpea pasta and Turkey bacon as this is what I had a on hand! Great way to use up veggies as well - thank you!
staysnatched
Monday 11th of April 2022
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.