Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing pasta salad with creamy ranch dressing, crisp vegetables, and fresh herbs—ideal for picnics and gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

→ Ranch Dressing

07 - 3/4 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1/4 cup sour cream
09 - 3 tbsp buttermilk (or milk)
10 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried dill)
11 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
12 - 1 tsp garlic powder
13 - 1 tsp onion powder
14 - 1/2 tsp dried parsley
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Add-ins

17 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
18 - 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

# How to Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and peas to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon if desired. Fold ingredients gently to maintain texture.
05 - Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Toss again just before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The homemade ranch dressing puts those store bought bottles to absolute shame
  • It gets better after a night in the fridge so you can make it ahead without stress
  • Everyone asks for the recipe but nobody believes how simple it actually is
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • The salad absorbs dressing as it sits so keep a little extra aside for refreshing before serving
  • Salt the pasta water aggressively because the pasta itself is the main seasoning vehicle
03 -
  • Reserve a handful of fresh herbs to scatter on top right before serving for a pop of green
  • If the dressing seems too thick after chilling add buttermilk one tablespoon at a time

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