Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Covered in a creamy ranch dressing mix and tossed with bacon and peas, this pasta salad is one that your family will ask for time and time again.

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This post was originally published on May 19, 2022. Last updated on May 9, 2024.

Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

When it comes to recipes, you know that I love quick and easy.

And with just 15 minutes of prep work, you can easily toss this side dish together whenever you’re in a pinch for time.

So, if you’re looking for the perfect side salad to take to a potluck or backyard barbecue this summer, give this creamy bacon ranch pasta salad a try.

It’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Because, everything is better with bacon—even pasta salad!

Table of Contents

• Ingredients for Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
• Equipment Needed
• Step 1: Cook Your Pasta
• Step 2: Mix the Ranch Dressing for Your Pasta Salad
• Step 3: Add Remaining Ingredients and Chill
• Printable Recipe Card For Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
• Pin and Save it for Later!

Ingredients for Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

• 1 (16 oz) box of small shell pasta
• 1 (1 oz) packet ranch dip mix
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (16 oz) container of sour cream
• 2 teaspoons parsley
• 1 teaspoon dill
• salt and pepper to taste
• 12 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 (16 oz) block cheddar cheese (sharp or mild), cubed
• 1 (10 oz) bag frozen peas, thawed

Equipment Needed

• Medium pot with straining lid
• Mixing bowls
• Rubber spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Cutting board
• Paring knife
• Microwavable bacon grill

How to Make Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Step 1: Cook Your Pasta

To kick off your ranch pasta salad, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.

Once the water has reached a boil, add your shell pasta and cook until al-dente.

When done, drain the pasta and give it a quick rinse in cold water.

Then pour the pasta into a large mixing bowl to cool and set it aside.

Step 2: Mix the Ranch Dressing for Your Pasta Salad

Once the pasta has cooled, mix the dressing and prep the remainder of the ingredients for your salad, including the cheddar cheese, peas, and bacon.

To a small mixing bowl, add one 16 oz container of sour cream, 1/3 cup of mayo, and one package of ranch dip mix.

For convenience, I used the generic ranch dip from my grocery store.

You can achieve a similar flavor with a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch, or feel free to use any other brand for your pasta salad.

Then sprinkle in two teaspoons of parsley and one teaspoon of dill.

Stir until all the dressing ingredients are well combined, and add salt and pepper to taste.

Then, pour the ranch dressing mix over the pasta salad and stir until the shells are well coated.

Step 3: Add Remaining Ingredients and Chill

To finish, stir in your cubed cheddar cheese, thawed peas, and crumbled bacon.

Mix your bacon ranch pasta salad until everything is combined.

Then cover the pasta salad and let it chill to flavor for at least one hour before serving.

Once the salad has chilled, serve it up then dig in and enjoy!

Can I Make the Pasta Salad Ahead of Time?

The short answer is yes, you can!

If you’d prefer to do some prep the day before, you can.

The trick is to keep the pasta, ranch dressing mix, and other ingredients separate until about an hour before you are ready to serve the salad.

First, cook and strain the pasta as directed.

Then cube the cheese, thaw the peas, and cook and crumble the bacon.

Put each in a separate air-tight food storage container.

Then, in a clean mixing bowl, combine all of the ranch dressing ingredients, mix well, and cover.

Store everything in the fridge overnight to keep it cold.

Pour the dressing mix over the pasta the next day.

Then stir in the cheese, peas, and bacon.

You can eat it right away, but I think the pasta salad tastes best when you let it chill for at least one hour before serving to let it flavor just a bit.

And to finish your dinner, try a no-bake dessert like lemon berry cheesecake cups or summer berry trifle.

Or try any one of these classic summer sweets including, peach dump cake, cast-iron triple berry crisp, or my personal favorite, old-fashioned strawberry peach crisp.

Spring Celebrations: Whip up a batch of this pasta salad for graduation parties, baby and bridal showers, a spring garden party, or even Easter brunch.

Father’s Day Backyard BBQ: This recipe is also perfect for a Father’s Day BBQ, offering a delicious and easy contribution to the cookout.

Patriotric Block Parties: Hosting a Memorial Day cookout or a Fourth of July party? This creamy bacon ranch pasta salad is the perfect summer side dish that’ll disappear faster than a popsicle on a hot day!

Casual Summer Celebrations: This creamy ranch pasta salad is an easy choice for a relaxed summer gathering, like a backyard cookout or a low country boil.

More Summer Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love

If you love this bacon ranch pasta salad recipe, you might also enjoy some of my other favorite side dishes for BBQs

Creamy Broccoli Salad

Cucumber Pasta Salad

Classic Creamy Fruit Salad

Creamy Ranch Bacon Pasta Salad: The Best Pasta Salad Recipe

I hope you like the recipe for this simple summer side as much as I do.

As always, if you try any of my recipes, I’d love to know what you think.

Please leave your feedback in the comments.

And, if you love it, don’t forget to give it a “thumbs up” with the star rating found on the recipe card.

Enjoy!