Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Print)

Creamy pasta salad with crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch. The ultimate side for cookouts and gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or elbow macaroni

→ Dairy & Dressings

02 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup sour cream
04 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
05 - 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (28 g)

→ Proteins

06 - 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled

→ Vegetables

07 - 2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
08 - 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin

→ For Garnish (Optional)

09 - Extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions

# How To Make:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This is the pasta salad that actually disappears at potlucks instead of sitting lonely and half eaten
  • The crispy bacon creates this incredible salty crunch that keeps people coming back for seconds
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes with zero actual cooking skills required
02 -
  • The pasta must be completely cooled before mixing or the dressing will turn into a weird melty mess
  • This salad actually tastes better on day two so do not be afraid to make it the night before your event
  • The pasta will absorb some dressing overnight so keep a tiny bit of extra dressing mixture in the fridge to freshen it up
03 -
  • Cook the bacon in the oven on a foil lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for 15 minutes for zero mess and perfect crispy results every single time
  • Sprinkle a tiny pinch of salt over the finished salad even though the bacon and ranch seasoning are salty because pasta needs salt to actually taste like anything

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