Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable View)

Creamy, savory pasta salad with bacon, cheddar, and ranch—the ultimate crowd-pleasing side for cookouts and gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

01 - 12 oz rotini or elbow macaroni

02 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

03 - 1 cup sour cream

04 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise

05 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix

06 - 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled

07 - 2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed

08 - 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin

09 - Extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions (optional)

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.

02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning until smooth.

03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl, then fold in cheddar cheese, bacon, peas, and green onions. Toss well to combine.

04 - Chill pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.

05 - Garnish with extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions before serving, if desired. Serve cold.

01 -

That irresistible combination of salty bacon and cool tangy ranch hits every craving at once
The creamy dressing clings to every twist of pasta so each bite is perfectly flavored
It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors hang out for a while

02 -

Rinse your pasta thoroughly with cold water or it'll keep cooking and turn mushy in the salad
The dressing will seem thick at first but thins out perfectly as the pasta sits in the fridge
This actually tastes better the next day so feel free to make it up to 24 hours ahead

03 -

Cook your bacon in the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes to get perfectly crispy pieces without the mess of stovetop splattering
If making ahead, hold back a little of the dressing to stir in right before serving in case the pasta absorbs too much overnight