Bacon and Ranch Pasta Salad

This easy recipe for bacon and ranch pasta salad is a fun and hearty recipe that everyone loves. It’s great for an appetizer, side dish, or lunch!

There’s nothing like the combination of bacon and ranch for salads, appetizers, and more. This simple pasta salad recipe is similar to Creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta Salad but with a little kick of ranch! You can use store-bought ranch but you can also substitute Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix!

Check out this simple and delicious pasta salad with bacon and ranch to discover your new favorite summer recipe. Of course you can make this one year round like we do but it’s especially fun to make for backyard BBQ’s, family gatherings, and potlucks over the summer.

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If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last ten years or so you have probably encountered the bacon ranch combination. It’s a tasty combo that just works so well together. It’s no wonder why this bacon and ranch pasta salad is such a hit every time we make it!

Can I make this recipe gluten free?

You can make this recipe gluten free by substituting the necessary changes for the pasta. Other than that you shouldn’t have too many issues as most of the ingredients will be naturally gluten free.

There’s nothing better than bacon ranch pasta salad so definitely give it a try with your necessary swaps so you can make this one for all to enjoy.

Keep in mind that sometimes gluten free pasta will soak up a bit more moisture so you may need to slightly overcook the noodles to keep them from being a bit dry in the final salad!

What do I need to make bacon and ranch pasta salad?

To make this recipe for bacon ranch pasta salad you will need pretty normal stuff. There’s nothing really tricky to find at the grocery store which means you don’t have to add any stress to your plate for this one!

This recipe uses rotini pasta, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, dry ranch seasoning, lean bacon, frozen green peas, grape tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. 

Find the full list of ingredients with amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. It’s a great resource which also has step by step instructions, nutritional estimates, and shopping links all on one page!

How to make bacon ranch pasta salad:

This is a really simple pasta salad recipe. You’ll be amazed at how such simple ingredients come together to create a delicious dish that everyone will devour.

You can definitely make this a bit in advance. It’s best to give it some time to soak up all those flavors in the refrigerator. If you need to make it a day in advance for a party or gathering that will be just fine!

For those of you who like to meal prep this is a great lunch recipe that you can whip up at the start of the week and toss into containers for grab and go snacks or meals during those extra busy weeks.

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, milk and dry ranch packet ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Add all remaining ingredients to a large bowl and toss gently. 

Stir in dressing and mix until all ingredients are well coated. 

Refrigerate at least 1 hour to allow flavors to combine. 

Serve cold. 

Looking for more delicious recipes to try?

Here are some other recipes that we think you will definitely want to try. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and of course we have some homemade alternatives for you to use in this recipe as well! Give them a try and find out which ones you will want to add to your meal plan rotation time and time again.

• Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
• Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheels
• Cheddar Bacon Ranch Smashed Potatoes
• Creamy Bacon Parmesan Pasta Salad
• Veggie Ranch Pinwheels

Printable Recipe for Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad: