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–+ servings

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

An easy to make crowd-pleasing potluck staple that pairs tender pasta, cheese, black olives and crisp peppers with a bacon-y crunch and a cool, creamy herb dressing.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package 12 ounces tri-color rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 package 1 ounce dry ranch dressing/seasoning mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 8 slices cooked bacon crumbled
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 can 4.25 ounces sliced black olives, drained
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 green pepper

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain water. Rinse pasta with cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dry ranch mix, garlic powder and milk. Add pasta, cooked bacon pieces, tomato, olives and cheese to the bowl. Gently toss to combine everything.
  3. Cover and chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.

Notes

This is a great make-ahead dish. Resting overnight allows the pasta to absorb the liquids and spices to fully mingle, resulting in a deeper, more cohesive flavor.

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