This Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad is my go-to pasta salad recipe! It’s loaded with tender noodles, salty, smoky bacon bits, and fresh veggies, and finished with a creamy ranch dressing. Enjoy on its own as a light lunch or dinner or serve alongside another delicious entree or side dish.
Pasta salad is one of my favorite things. I mean…cold pasta with an array of tasty mix-ins and a mouthwatering dressing? How could you not love that?
This Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad is one of my favorite pasta salad recipes, and I bet it will be one of yours now too!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Quick to make – This delicious pasta salad recipe takes just 25 minutes to come together.
- Customizable – Make this recipe as-is OR add other mix-ins to make it your own. So many possibilities!
- Unbeatable flavor – Creamy ranch, the sweet burst of tomato, salty and crunchy bacon…You’ll be going back for seconds (or thirds!)
Recipe Notes
This BLT Past Salad Recipe is as simple as promised! Just 25 minutes for a family friendly meal or side dish.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Creamy Pasta Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Pasta – I used rotini, but any small pasta shape will work.
- Romaine Lettuce
- Grape Tomatoes
- Bacon – Cooked and crumbled. Check out my recipe for Homemade Bacon Bits for specific instructions.
- Ranch Dressing – Our homemade Ranch dressing is made with buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, dried dill, salt, pepper, and fresh chives.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Use other mix-ins – This recipe is pretty darn perfect as it is, but you can absolutely customize with other mix-ins. Try tossing in diced red onion, cheddar cheese, shredded carrot, peas, chopped celery, broccoli florets, you name it.
- Make it vegetarian – Simply skip the bacon bits OR swap them out for your favorite plant-based variety of bacon.
- Use another protein – Skip the bacon and use diced ham or shredded or diced chicken for a slightly different flavor profile.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make the the Best Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe Ever.
In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, and chives to make your Creamy Pasta Salad Dressing. Once combined, pour in the rest of the buttermilk while stirring consistently. Mix until smooth and pourable.
Prepare your bacon, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, halved tomatoes, and chopped lettuce.
Pour the dressing over your pasta and mix-ins, toss to combine, then serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Rinse the pasta – Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, then rinse immediately with cool water. This stops the cooking process and results in the perfect texture.
- Chill before serving – While you can definitely serve this pasta salad up right away, I like to pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before serving. This gives the flavor of the dressing just enough time to soak into the noodles, and all the flavors time to meld together perfectly.
- Enjoy right away – Aside from the possible chilling time, I do recommend serving this pasta salad right away for the freshest texture and flavor.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Cook the noodles in advance – Cook and cool the noodles, then store them for a couple of days in the refrigerator before adding the dressing to cut down on the prep time later on.
- Make the dressing ahead of time – Homemade Ranch dressing will last in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. To get ahead, prep your dressing, then store it in the fridge!
What to Serve with Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of bacon and Ranch dressing, it will pair well with many of your favorite side dishes. It can also easily be served as a side dish next to an even heartier entree!
Choose one or several of these recipes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Pairing Ideas
- Southwest Grilled Chicken – Enjoy your Ranch Pasta Salad as a side dish with a juicy piece of Southwest Grilled Chicken. This recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and is infused with so much spicy, savory flavor.
- Summer Fruit Salad – Be the talk of your local potluck by pairing your Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad with a pile of Summer Fruit Salad—a fresh combination of berries, grapes, pineapple, and kiwi.
- Buffalo Chicken Burgers – Pair your pasta salad with a hearty Buffalo Chicken Burger for a mouthwatering combination. This recipes requires just 6 simple ingredients and yields the best burger patties. Serve on your favorite buns with all the best burger toppings!
Creamy Pasta Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the secret to a good pasta salad?
The secret to the best pasta salad is to just serve right away! Leftovers are great, but you get the best textures and flavors immediately after assembling.
What do you put in pasta salad?
Anything you want! This recipe is delicious with the lettuce, tomato, and bacon, but you can totally add other classic pasta salad mix-ins for some variety.
More EASY Pasta Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy pasta recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes pasta salads below.
Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the pasta salad
- 1 pound pasta, I used rotini
- 1 heart of romaine, chopped (about 3-4 cups)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 pieces of bacon, cooked to crispy and crumbled
For the ranch dressing
- 3/4 cup buttermilk, divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup finely chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- Cook the pasta per package directions. Once done, rinse with cool water and let drip dry.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the buttermilk ranch dressing by whisking together ½ cup buttermilk, all of the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, pepper and chives. Drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup of buttermilk while whisking until the dressing is smooth and pourable.Chill until ready to use. (The ranch dressing can also be made up to three days ahead of time and used when ready to serve the salad.)
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, romaine and grape tomatoes. Pour in the creamy ranch dressing and toss until everything is coated. Last, stir in the bacon.
- Serve immediately as a side or main dish. Enjoy!
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