Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Creamy ranch dressing coats every bite of pasta and vegetables in this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad. Sprinkled throughout with bacon and cheddar cheese, my kids went absolutely nuts over this salad.

pasta salad ingredients with ranch dressing, bacon, tomatoes, green onions, peas, tomatoes, and cheese in clear mixing bowl

I love making pasta salads and there is no end to the ways that we make them fun and interesting! (I’m looking at you, Deviled Egg Pasta Salad!) I made this pasta salad for the first time about 10 years ago and my kids dove into this for second helpings lightning fast. They polished off almost the entire recipe in one sitting!

I enjoy having easy recipes like this one at my fingertips for nights when it’s too hot to even think about being in the kitchen. A few minutes spent in the kitchen after breakfast and you’ll have dinner ready whenever you are hungry for it.

This salad is a frequent request on our meal plan. And I have to think ahead and stash a portion for myself in the back of the refrigerator if I want to have some left for my lunch the following day.

close up of pasta salad with bacon and ranch dressing in bowl with serving spoon

Ingredients and Substitutions

The Pasta – Pasta shells are a great choice for dishes with lots of sauce (or in this case, dressing).

Peas – Thawed frozen peas will work well here.

Tomatoes – I prefer grape tomatoes here, because of their firmer bite and more savory flavor.

Cheese – Cheddar or Colby jack cheese are my go-tos for pasta salads. But, whatever mild cheese you have on hand works.

Bacon – I almost always cook my bacon in the oven for the easiest possible cooking and clean-up. You’ll want to reserve about a tablespoon of grease for the dressing.

Salt – I salt the pasta water, because dried pasta is naturally quite bland. So, cooking it in generously salted water helps it absorb flavor while it rehydrates.

Avocado – Topping this salad with fresh chopped avocado adds another layer of creamy deliciousness. It pairs wonderfully with the dressing, too.

Notes on Equipment

Mixing Bowl
Chef’s Knife
Spoonula
Colander – A simple strainer really shouldn’t be able to make me as happy as this one does, and yet? This one does. It has a smaller footprint than most, yet it’s sturdy and can handle a couple pounds of pasta. It just makes me grin.

Dressing Ingredients

I almost always have a jar of homemade ranch dressing in my refrigerator. If you happen to have some dressing on hand as well, you can combine half a cup of ranch dressing with a tablespoon or so of reserved bacon grease and you’ll be good to go.

Mayo – I use mayonnaise to make the creamy, tangy foundation for this dressing.

Milk – A splash of milk gives the dressing an easily pourable consistency.

The Herbs – This ranch owes its bright, herby taste to a generous sprinkling of dried dill, parsley, and chives.

Lemon Juice – I use fresh lemons in all of my dressings. The difference in noticeable. Store-bought lemon juice can often taste more acidic and lack the brightness of fresh lemons.

Bacon Grease – You’ll want to reserve a couple tablespoons of grease after cooking the bacon. It’ll add a smokiness to the dressing.

Garlic & Onion – The classic combo of garlic and onion powder add a mild kick.

Salt & Pepper – Kosher salt and some freshly ground black pepper help bring out the flavors in this dressing.

pour shot of ranch dressing over pasta salad

How to Make a Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Preheating the Oven: To start, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Lining the Baking Sheet: Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. This step isn’t required, but it’ll make cleanup easier.

Laying Out the Bacon: Spread out the bacon strips across the baking sheet and crumple them slightly. Having more folds in the bacon will result in more crispy edges.

Cooking the Bacon: I place the pan in the oven and set a timer for 16 minutes. When it goes off, I check to see if the bacon is done. Depending on the thickness of the bacon, may take as long as 20-22 minutes to finish cooking.

Reserving Bacon Grease: When the bacon is done cooking, remove it from the pan, place it on a paper towel lined plate. Don’t forget to save a couple tablespoons of bacon grease for the dressing.

Cooking the Pasta: While the bacon is cooking, I’ll start a pot of water to boil on the stove. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. I like to add a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water while it boils, to make sure the pasta is flavorful.

Rinsing the Peas: While the pasta cooks, I rinse the frozen peas in the colander to thaw them and then I transfer the thawed peas to a bowl.

Draining the Pasta: Once the pasta has finished cooking, rinse well with cold water to halt the cooking process.

Whisking Together the Dressing: I add the mayo, milk, dill, parsley, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.

Adding Lemon Juice: After the dressing ingredients have been combined, you’ll want to add the lemon juice. Taste, and add more lemon if desired.

Adding the Bacon Grease: I’ll whisk in the reserved warm bacon grease. Taste the dressing and adjust as desired, adding more lemon juice for tang or more grease for added smokiness.

close up of pasta salad stirred together with dressing

Combining Ingredients: Add the peas, cooked pasta to the bowl with the dressing. You’ll want to stir gently until all ingredients are coated.

Preparing the Tomatoes: You’ll want to rinse the tomatoes and then slice them into halves. Add the tomatoes to the bowl.

Shredding the Cheese: Shred the cheese with a grater. Add it to the bowl with the pasta.

Chopping the Bacon: Now you can chop or crumble the bacon as you like and add it to the bowl with the pasta and vegetables. Stir to mix well.

Serving: Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. I usually stir the salad again before serving.

Adding the Avocado: I like to wait to slice the avocado and add it to individual servings.

individual serving of bacon ranch pasta salad on table next to large mixing bowl of salad

Expert Tip

The reason this simple salad works so well is the way the different flavors and textures are balanced. The tiny little peas pop and the juicy, sweet tomatoes balance out the salty bits of bacon and the creamy cheese, while the dressing fills the inside of the small shell pasta. So, don’t skip any of the ingredients and make sure you’re cooling the pasta and allowing it to partially dry in the strainer so the dressing will have a chance to cling to it.

Cooling the Pasta – Make sure you rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water. If the pasta is still warm when all the ingredients come together, it can continue to cook, which will make the overall consistency of the salad too soft.

Patting the Peas Dry – After thawing, the peas may still be wet. I usually pat them dry with a hand towel before adding them to the dish. This prevents any excess moisture from changing the consistency of the dressing.

Crumbles of Bacon – All bacon crumbles are not created equal, but REAL bacon crumbles can be substituted for the bacon in this recipe. I buy ours at Costco, and I’ve substituted them in this recipe many times. You’ll need about half a cup of REAL bacon crumbles.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this pasta salad with my Last Minute Chicken to make it a simple, hearty meal. Or sometimes I’ll pair it with a Cucumber Tomato Salad to keep it a little lighter.

When we’re grilling, it’s always a great match with a Hot Dog Bar or these Smoky Grilled Chicken and Bacon Sandwiches.

Make Ahead & Storage

Make Ahead: Yes! I like to make a double recipe of this salad on the weekend for an easy family meal and then eat the leftovers through the week.

How to Store: This pasta salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days, no problem.

individual serving of bacon ranch pasta salad in black pottery bowl

More Pasta Salad Recipes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use store-bought ranch dressing instead?

There’s nothing better than homemade ranch dressing for salads any day of the week, but if you don’t have the spices on hand to make the dressing for this recipe, any store-bought ranch salad dressing that you enjoy eating will work fine for this pasta salad.

Can I skip the bacon grease if I don’t want to add it to the dressing?

Yes. This salad will still taste delicious without it.

My pasta salad dried out a bit in the refrigerator. What should I do?

If the salad has lost some moisture in the refrigerator, I usually just add a few tablespoons of ranch dressing to the salad and stir again before serving.

Cook the Bacon

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil. (The foil is not required, but it does make cleanup very simple.) Spread the bacon strips out across the pan.
Place the tray of bacon on the middle oven rack. Set a timer for 16 minutes to check the bacon. Depending on the thickness of the bacon, it might take as long as 20-22 minutes.
Remove it from the oven when it is as crisp or crunchy as you like. Use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease for the dressing. Let the bacon cool while assembling the rest of the salad.

Make the Salad

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. When the pasta is tender, rinse well with cold water. While the pasta is cooking, rinse the peas to thaw them.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, milk, dill, parsley, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the lemon juice, taste, and add more lemon if desired. Whisk in the bacon grease. Taste and add additional bacon grease for added smoky bacon flavor.
Add the peas, cooked pasta, tomatoes, cheese, bacon, and green onion to the mixing bowl with the dressing. Stir gently to coat all the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving.

This recipe multiplies nicely for a crowd. ½ cup of ranch dressing may be substituted for the dressing listed in this recipe. Simply stir the bacon grease into the prepared ranch dressing and continue with the recipe.