Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is a wonderful dish that combines the rich and smoky flavors of bacon with the freshness of peas and appeal of pasta. This pasta salad is a perfect addition to any meal, whether it's a casual summer picnic, a family barbecue, or a potluck dinner.
Why You'll Love This Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
- Creamy and satisfying: Tender pasta and sweet peas are tossed in a flavorful dressing.
- Crispy bacon in every bite: Smoky bacon adds a delicious crunch that pairs perfectly with the peas.
- Easy to make ahead: Chill it before serving so the flavors have time to come together.
- Perfect for sharing: Bring it to a potluck, cookout, or family dinner for an easy crowd-pleasing side.
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Try some of our other favorite side dishes, such as Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole, Cucumber, Onion, Tomato Salad, Zucchini Casserole, or Cheesy Broccoli Casserole.
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Ingredients for Ranch Bacon Pasta Salad
- Pasta (small shells, rotini, macaroni)
- sour cream
- milk
- mayonnaise
- real bacon pieces (either from a bag or make it fresh from bacon strips)
- dry ranch seasoning
- frozen peas, thawed
- cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
- diced ham
FAQs
Bacon Pea Ranch Pasta Salad is a flavorful and easy-to-make cold pasta salad featuring cooked pasta, crispy bacon, sweet peas, and a creamy ranch dressing. It's a perfect side dish for barbecues, picnics, and potlucks.
Yes, Bacon Pea Ranch Pasta Salad can be made ahead of time. It's actually recommended to make it a few hours in advance to allow the flavors to meld together. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir the salad before serving again, as the dressing may settle at the bottom.
If your pasta salad seems dry, it may need more dressing. Add additional ranch dressing or mayonnaise to reach your desired consistency. Also, ensure the salad is well-mixed before serving.
Top Tips
- You can cook your own bacon and cut into small pieces or just use bagged real bacon pieces. I tend to use the bagged real bacon to save time.
- It is important to remember to run cold water over the noodles before adding to the mixture. You don't want to put in hot noodles to a mayo mixture.
- For best results, refrigerate 2-4 hours to let the flavors intermingle and absorb. Stir well before serving. It can dry out a bit if you do not eat it right away, so just add a little extra mayo, milk, or sour cream.
How to make Ranch Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
- In a large pot, cook noodles based on the box directions (usually 8-10 minutes).
- While your noodles are cooking, start mixing the other ingredients. In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, dry ranch, and milk.
- Stir in bacon, ham, thawed peas, and cheese.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain, and run cold water over them. Combine drained noodles with the sauce and bacon.
- Refrigerate or eat right away.
Ranch Bacon Pea Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz. box pasta (small shells, rotini, macaroni)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup milk
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup real bacon (either from a bag or make it fresh from bacon strips)
- ¼ cup (or 1-2 packets) dry ranch seasoning
- 1-2 cups frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
- 8 ounces diced ham
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook noodles based on the box directions (usually 8-10 minutes).1 16 oz. box pasta (small shells, rotini, macaroni)
- While your noodles are cooking, start mixing the other ingredients. In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, dry ranch, and milk.½ cup sour cream, ⅓ cup milk, ¾ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup (or 1-2 packets) dry ranch seasoning
- Stir in bacon, ham, thawed peas, and cheese.1 cup real bacon (either from a bag or make it fresh from bacon strips), 1-2 cups frozen peas, thawed, 8 ounces diced ham, 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain, and run cold water over them. Combine drained noodles with the sauce and bacon.
- Refrigerate or eat right away.
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