My bacon ranch pasta salad if full of delicious bacon flavor with a fresh, herby dressing. A great side dish for cookout season, to serve at holidays, or just to have in the refrigerator for a delicious meal at home.

During the summer months I seem to always have a big bowl of pasta salad in my refrigerator. They are simple to make and always have great flavor. This ranch pasta salad is my husband’s favorite because he loves the combination of bacon, cheese, and ranch.

You could almost call this a million dollar pasta salad with all of the tasty flavors. It’s the kind of dish that people request me to bring to a cookout, potluck, or family gathering.

Be sure to check out this ditalini pasta salad, spaghetti pasta salad, and cucumber pasta salad if you are wanting more summer salads.

Ranch pasta salad with bacon ingredients

This ranch pasta salad is easy to customize but these are my favorite base ingredients for the salad and the dressing.

• Pasta: I like using small shells, ditalini, or small elbow macaroni for this recipe.
• Bacon: Cooked, crumbled bacon gives this pasta salad great smoky flavor.
• Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes work the best for this recipe. I recommend cutting them in half.
• Cucumbers: I recommend using English cucumbers because they have a thin skin and fewer seeds.
• Red onions: Finely diced red onion adds great color and flavor.
• Cheese: I prefer using cubed cheese for this recipe. Colby Jack or Cheddar work well.
• Mayonnaise: Helps to make the dressing rich and creamy.
• Sour cream: A hint of tang that compliments the mayonnaise.
• Milk: A little mix helps to thin out the dressing.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs really makes this pasta salad stand out.
• Ranch seasoning: I use a pack of ranch seasoning but you can also use homemade ranch seasoning.

How to make ranch pasta salad

Scroll to the bottom for the full, printable recipe of this bacon ranch pasta salad with ranch dressing.

Step one: Cook the pasta according to the box directions. Drain in a colander and then rinse with cold water.

Step two: Add the pasta to a large bowl or casserole dish. Stir in diced cucumbers, tomatoes, diced red onions, crumbled bacon, and cubed cheese.

Step three: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, milk, salt, pepper, and herbs.

Step four: Stir the dressing in with the pasta salad. Make sure to stir to fully coat the pasta salad.

Step five: Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Cook the pasta until al dente. This will help the pasta keep it’s shape and stand up to the dressing.
• Rinse the pasta with cold water. Once you drain the pasta, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Dice the vegetables into small pieces. You want everything to be in small, bite sized pieces.
• Chill before serving. If you have time, cover and let the pasta salad chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.

Bacon ranch pasta salad variations

There are many ways to make this pasta salad your own. Here are a few customizations you can try:

• Pasta: Use a different pasta like elbow macaroni, rotini, or ditalini.
• Veggies: Try other vegetables like green peas, diced bell peppers, carrots, celery, black olives, and more.
• Spicy: Add a splash of hot sauce to the ranch dressing.
• Avocados: Stir in some diced avocados for an avocado ranch pasta salad.

Storage instructions

Store: Be sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure to give it a stir before serving.

Freeze: This recipe does not freeze well.

How to serve bacon pasta salad

This creamy ranch pasta salad makes a good amount for a crowd. It’s great for all kinds of occasions like a backyard BBQ, family reunion, holidays, and more.

You can serve this on it’s own or as a side dish for things like slow cooker country style ribs, grilled chicken, or sloppy joes.

Recipe FAQ’s

More easy salad recipes

• Pea salad
• Broccoli apple salad
• Grape salad
• Dill pickle potato salad
• Taco salad with catalina dressing