Description
This Addictive Crack Pasta Salad is a delicious blend of savory, creamy, and crunchy flavors that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or as a satisfying meal on its own!
Ingredients
- Rotini, fusilli, or small shells pasta
- Crispy beef bacon
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Red onion
- Celery
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Cherry tomatoes
- Green onions
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Buttermilk
- Dry ranch seasoning mix
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sugar
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until it's perfectly al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it thoroughly under cold running water. Set aside to cool completely.
- Crisp Up the Beef Bacon: Cook the beef bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy. Transfer the beef bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess fat. Once cooled slightly, crumble the crispy beef bacon into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Chop the Veggies and Cheese: Dice your red onion, celery, and bell peppers into small, uniform pieces. Halve your cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the green onions. Cube your cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
- Whip Up the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dry ranch seasoning mix, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until the dressing is completely smooth and creamy.
- Combine Everything: In a very large mixing bowl, add the cooled and well-drained pasta, the crispy crumbled beef bacon, the cubed cheeses, and all your chopped vegetables.
- Dress and Toss: Pour the creamy dressing generously over all the ingredients in the large bowl. Gently but thoroughly toss everything together until every piece is coated in the dressing.
- Chill for Flavor Melding: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
- Serve It Up: Before serving, give the pasta salad another good stir. If it seems a little thick after chilling, add a splash more buttermilk or milk to reach your desired consistency. Garnish with sliced green onions.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: The longer this pasta salad chills, the better it tastes! Aim for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best. Customize your veggies and seasonings to your liking.