Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad (Printable)
Refreshing creamy pasta with ranch dressing, crisp vegetables, and fresh herbs—ideal for gatherings and outdoor meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
→ Ranch Dressing
07 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
09 - 3 tbsp buttermilk or milk
10 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried dill)
11 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
12 - 1 tsp garlic powder
13 - 1 tsp onion powder
14 - 1/2 tsp dried parsley
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Optional Add-ins
17 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
18 - 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool quickly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and peas to the bowl. Toss gently to coat everything evenly in the dressing.
04 - Stir in the optional cheddar cheese and bacon, if desired, distributing them evenly throughout the salad.
05 - Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop.
06 - Toss the salad again just before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve chilled.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The ranch dressing gets even better after an hour in the fridge, so you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your own party
- Easily customizable with whatever vegetables are lingering in your crisper drawer
02 -
- The pasta needs to be completely cool before mixing, otherwise the dressing will melt and separate into an unappealing mess
- This salad actually tastes better after sitting for a few hours, so do not stress about making it last minute
03 -
- Cut your vegetables slightly smaller than you think you need them, so every forkful gets a perfect bite of everything
- Rinse the pasta with cold water until it is genuinely cold to the touch, not just lukewarm, to stop the cooking completely