RANCH PASTA SALAD
This Ranch Pasta Salad is one you will make over and over again. It is super versatile and a wonderful favorite year round. The homemade dressing is a game changer!
If you love pasta salads you will want to try this Bow Tie Pasta Salad! It’s loaded in vegetables and perfect for any gathering.
❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
We love the homemade Ranch on this salad, it just gives it a great flavor and really blends the vegetables. You could always add pepperoni, rotisserie chicken, chopped ham to this salad to make it more of a meal. Super versatile and always a hit!
🍴KEY INGREDIENTS
- Rotini pasta (could use any kind of pasta you like)
- Ripe olives, weight 6 ounces, drained, chopped (optional)
- Real bacon bits
- Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- Green onion, chopped (or about 3 onions)
- Cherry tomatoes, cut in half (could use more or 1 large tomato, chopped and drained)
- Cucumber, coarsely chopped
Dressing Ingredients:
- Mayonnaise or salad dressing (your preference)
- Buttermilk
- Sour cream
- Dried parsley flakes
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Dillweed
SWAPS
You can add any vegetables you like to this and remove any you don’t. It’s a salad that will work with just about anything, and it’s always a hit!
🍽️HOW TO MAKE
This salad is super easy, the longest part is taking the time to chop up all the delicious vegetables!
Step 1
Prepare pasta according to package directions for salad pasta draining and running under cold water. Let pasta cool while you prepare other ingredients.
Step 2
Mix all together in a large salad bowl and add homemade ranch dressing made with recipe below.
Step 3
Let cool in the refrigerator for several hours before serving or overnight.
⭐TIP
This salad will keep for a few days in the refrigerator, if it becomes dry just add some mayo. Also this dressing is one of our favorites, you an double it and put it in a mason jar and enjoy it on other salads, dip veggies in it, etc.
OTHER RANCH SALADS
STORING & SERVING SIZE
We store this in an air tight container in the refrigerator and it makes about 10-12 servings.
Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces salad rotini pasta could use any kind of pasta you like
- 1 can medium pitted ripe olives weight 6 ounces, drained, chopped
- 1/4 cup real bacon bits
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup green onion chopped (or about 3 onions)
- 12 cherry tomatoes cut in half (could use more or 1 large tomato, chopped and drained)
- 1 cup cucumber coarsely chopped
Ranch Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing your preference
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon dillweed
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions for salad pasta draining and running under cold water. Let pasta cool while you prepare other ingredients.
- Mix all together in a large salad bowl and add homemade ranch dressing made with recipe below. Let cool in refrigerator for several hours before serving or overnight. Makes about 10 to 12 servings. Serve over lettuce or as is. (Note: This salad will keep in the refrigerator for several days. If becomes dry after a few days, add more mayo.)
Dressing Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Makes about 1 cup dressing. Pour over pasta salad
Notes
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Can you use the hidden valley ranch seasoning with this recipe? If so, what ingredient can I omit? thanks.
The seasonings in this pasta salad dressinng create a homemade ranch dressing. If you don’t want to include them, then leave out the seasonings. Thanks!
For any salad that calls for mayonnaise, I use half mayo and half sour creme….wonderful taste!! potato, pasta, chicken, and ham salad…try it!
I love your recipes, always something I like and everything looks so good. Keep up the good work !!!!!
where do you get dill weed ?
You can buy the dried in the spice section at the grocery.
Looks good can you use something else besides cucumber I don’t like them
Leave it out or use whatever you like, Gail.
Oh me, you are keping me busy with all the great recipes!! I feel compelled to try all of them… which I can’t possibly do. Thank you so muchfor all the recipes, ideas, & tips.
I made this for July 4th and the family LOVED it! Will be making it for Labor Day! A tasty twist on regular pasta salad! 🙂
I’m so happy to find this recipe
I just found your blog today, and there are so many recipes I want to make. Your recipe for Ranch Pasta Salad, however, brings tears to my eyes. My grandmother (who was one of my most favorite people on this planet) used to make this very ranch dressing with me and we would serve it with dinner mixed with sliced cucumbers and onions. She has been gone for just over a decade now, but I think of her every time I cook. Thank you for a delicious twist on one of my favorite dishes 🙂
I made this today. It’s amazing! Such a good mix of flavors and textures. I will definitely be making this again. 🙂
Always a crowd pleaser!