How To Make This Simple Potluck Pasta Salad:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse in cold water and drain.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together Italian dressing mix, white vinegar, water and vegetable oil.
- In another small mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing packets with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
- Place cooked pasta and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
- Pour both dressing mixtures over top and toss well.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to give time for flavors to marinate.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Buttermilk Ranch Pasta Medley Salad
Published: · Modified: Nov 2, 2021 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Buttermilk Ranch Pasta Salad recipe is made with an envelope of ranch seasoning mix. It is a great barbecue side dish pasta salad recipe
Do you have a favorite pasta salad recipe that you could remix with Ranch® Salad Dressing or Seasoning Mix?If not you could try my Buttermilk Ranch Pasta Medley recipe at your next pot luck or bbq.
I made this salad for a fun little get together my daughter is having for her friends today. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe.
I love to add Ranch Salad Dressing or Seasoning Mix to my pasta salads. Its great flavor can take a boring salad to the next level and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next family dinner or BBQ.
What is your favorite recipe to remix with Hidden Valley Ranch?
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
This Creamy Pasta Salad has been a family and reader favorite for a number of years. If you have shrimp lovers in your life, this Shrimp Pasta Salad by Shugary Sweets is sure to be a hit.
If youre looking for a lighter salad, this Spinach Pasta Salad has become a go-to summer lunch for me. 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.
Italian Pasta Salad can be made a day ahead and its great for a crowd or for easy lunches through the week. This one is a frequent make-ahead dinner for me in the summer.
Easy Pesto Pasta Salad by Kalyns Kitchen is another great make-ahead recipe thats great for lunch or dinner.
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How To Make Cold Ranch Pasta Salad:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Add pasta and cook for 8 9 minutes.
Drain pasta.
You can rinse pasta or not. I rinse my pasta for cold pasta salads, but my best friend Italian and is 100% against it haha.
Add in broccoli, carrots, peas, and tomatoes to a big bowl.
Add in pasta and mix together.
Add in 2 cups ranch dressing and stir. DONT STIR IN ALL OF THE RANCH
Cover and place into the fridge for at least 2 hours.
Before serving. Stir in the rest of the ranch dressing and add salt to taste.
Ingredients Nutrition & Allergen Info

Ingredients: Salt, Onion*, Modified Food Starch, Sugar, Garlic*, Spices, Maltodextrin, Buttermilk, Dextrose, Less than 2% of: Natural & Artificial Flavors, Lactic Acid, Calcium Lactate, Guar Gum, Disodium, Inosinate & Guanylate, Calcium Stearate. *Dried
Contains: Milk, Soy
For Nutrition Facts, See Back Panel:
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How To Make Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium to high heat. Once the water has reached a boil, add the shell pasta and cook until al-dente.
When done, drain the pasta and give it a quick rinse in cold water. Pour the pasta into a large mixing bowl to cool and set it aside.
Next, mix the dressing and prep the remainder of the ingredients.
To a small bowl, add one 16 oz container of sour cream, 1/3 cup of mayo, and one package of ranch dip mix. Then sprinkle in two teaspoons of parsley and one teaspoon of dill.
Stir until all the dressing ingredients are well combined, and add salt and pepper to taste.
Then, pour the ranch dressing mix over the pasta and stir until the shells are well coated.
Stir in the cubed cheddar cheese, thawed peas, and crumbled bacon. Mix the salad until everything is combined.
Cover the pasta salad and let it chill to flavor for at least one hour before serving. Then dig in and enjoy!
How To Make Ranch Salad Dressing:
- 4 Servings 2 1/2 tsp dressing mix, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/4 cup mayonnaise.
- 8 Servings 1 1/2 TBSP dressing mix, 1/2 cup milk,1/2 cup mayonnaise.
- 16 Servings 3 TBSP dressing mix, 1 cup milk, 1 cup mayonnaise.
How long does homemade Hidden Valley Ranch dressing last?
Homemade Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing stays fresh 3-4 weeks.
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Special Dietary Needs And Allergens
All Hidden Valley® products are labeled in accordance with the FDA food labeling requirements, including the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 , which requires foods to be labeled that contain the major food allergens: milk products, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. For fish, crustacean shellfish, and tree nut ingredients, the exact species will be identified on the label. Refer to the ingredients statement on the back of each Hidden Valley® product to find the details.
Most of our products do not contain gluten. Products and ingredients made from grass-related grains containing gluten notably wheat, rye and barleywill be clearly listed in the ingredient statement on the package label per new FDA guidelines. If the product does not contain wheat, rye, or barley, it probably does not contain gluten. Only products that have been verified to be gluten free will have a Gluten Free statement. However, not all products that are gluten free will have this statement while we are in the process of updating our labels. Please always refer to the ingredient statement on package labels or contact us for clarification.
MSG is a flavor-enhancing substance derived from a fermentation process. This is an FDA-approved ingredient. It is specifically named on the label if it is contained. It is not labeled under Natural Flavors.
1. Register or login at hiddenvalley.com/ranchology-rewards.
How To Make Ranch Pasta Salad
This easy pasta salad comes together in minutes. Once the noodles are cooked and the veggies are chopped, stir everything together with your favorite Ranch dressing.
Read Also: Hidden Valley Ranch Pea Salad
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix Vs Dip
Ranch dressing mix adds quick flavor to your favorite recipes. You can use Ranch dip mix and dressing mix interchangeably in recipes. However, the main noticeable difference between both is the type of ingredients. Ranch dip contains mayonnaise and sour cream or Greek yogurt as an integral ingredient, whereas Ranch dressing includes milk and mayonnaise.
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Same-Day Delivery Works In 3 Easy Steps
Shop at BJs.com from any device.
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Get your groceries within two hours, or when you want them.
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BJs Wholesale Club to your front door!
Fresh handpicked groceries from BJs Wholesale Club to your front door!
2.5L x 3.5W x 6H |
Weight |
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Ingredients In This Pasta Salad
The beauty of this creamy pasta salad is you can add or subtract ingredients depending on what you have on hand or what your kids will eat. Its the perfect side dish no matter what. But heres what we start with:
- Pasta Get creative with a pasta shape. You can use Cavatappi noodles, macaroni, rotini pasta, penne, bowties, small shells, etc.
- Ranch seasoning mix Using a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch mix makes for a deliciously creamy ranch dressing.
- Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip if thats your preference.
- Sour cream you can use reduced fat if desired.
- Milk for an extra creamy ranch dressing, use whole milk in this recipe.
- Bacon cooked and crumbled or chopped into bite size pieces. You can also use real bacon bits too.
- Green peas Frozen green peas, thawed are the best for this recipe.
- Cheddar cheese use a block to cut into cubes
- Carrots shredded
- Cherry tomatoes Cut the tomatoes in half or use grape tomatoes.
- Salt and pepper, to taste.
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Ranch Pasta Salad Will Quickly Become A Favorite Recipe
8 ounces salad rotini pasta
1 can medium pitted ripe olives, weight 6 ounces, drained, chopped
1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped
1/4 cup real bacon bits
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 cup cucumber, coarsely chopped
Prepare pasta according to package directions for salad pasta draining and running under cold water. Let pasta cool while you prepare other ingredients. Mix all together in a large salad bowl and add homemade ranch dressing made with recipe below. Let cool in refrigerator for several hours before serving or overnight. Makes about 10 to 12 servings. Serve over lettuce or as is. ENJOY!
Ranch Dressing
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon dillweed
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Makes about 1 cup dressing. Pour over pasta salad.
Love this commentI just found your blog today, and there are so many recipes I want to make. Your recipe for Ranch Pasta Salad, however, brings tears to my eyes. My grandmother used to make this very ranch dressing with me and we would serve it with dinner mixed with sliced cucumbers and onions. She has been gone for just over a decade now, but I think of her every time I cook. Thank you for a delicious twist on one of my favorite dishes. Angela
- 1/8teaspoondillweed
Why You Should Use Tri Colored Rotini For This Pasta Salad

You can really use any pasta for pasta salad but I like to use the tri-colored or garden rotini for this ranch pasta salad for a few reasons:
The Shape: The shape of the rotini pasta is great for this recipe because it clings onto the ranch and the ranch can really get into the swirls of the pasta.
The Color: Since this pasta salad is made using ranch dressing which makes it all very white, I like to use the colored pasta to help add color.
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Easy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Ingredients:
Seriously, filling a fork with all these delicious ingredients is insanely good! Even my kids will eat this because of the creamy ranch dressing. Finally, I found an easy way for them to get in their veggies!
- Fusilli Tri-Color Pasta: I love using this colorful pasta to bring even more interest to this dish!
- Bacon: Adds crunch and a savory element.
- Roma Tomatoes: I love biting into the tomatoes for a burst of sweet flavor!
- Broccoli: Adds crisp and fresh earthy flavor
- Sliced Olives: Adds pieces of salty smooth richness.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded
- Mayonnaise: Mix together with ranch seasoning to make a creamy sauce to coat the veggies and pasta.
- Dry Ranch Seasoning: Combines with mayonnaise to add the classic ranch flavor.
How To Make Bowtie Pasta Salad:
- You can make this Bowtie Pasta Salad gluten-free by choosing one of Catellis gluten-free pastas.
- You can make this pasta salad dairy-free by using a dairy-free dressing such as Italian, or a dairy-free Ranch dressing .
- You can make this pasta vegetarian by simply leaving out the ham or swapping it with a can of white beans for extra protein.
*This post is generously sponsored by Catelli pasta thank you for supporting the brands that help me bring you these recipes!
If youre looking for more barbecue-worthy salads, check out this Creamy Fruit Salad with Homemade Vanilla Pudding Dressing, this Hawaiian Fruit Salad, or this BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad.
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How To Make It
Boil the pasta in a large pot following package directions until its al dente. Drain it, rinse it with cold water, and then spread it on a baking sheet to cool completely.
Take the frozen peas and place them in a fine mesh sieve. Run them under cool water to thaw them, drain them well and set them aside.
Make the dressing by combining the mayo, yogurt, buttermilk, with the ranch seasonings in a bowl. Refrigerate the dressing while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Cook the bacon slices in a large skillet until crispy. Remove them from the pan and drain them on a plate lined with paper towels. Once cooled, roughly chop the bacon.
Place the cooked pasta, peas, bacon, cheese, chopped parsley, and dressing in a large bowl. Stir to combine. At this point, you can serve the salad or refrigerate it for later.
What Goes Into Ranch Pasta Salad
- Ranch dressing: A completely from-scratch ranch dressing is tasty, but the classic packet of powder stirred into a combination of mayo and sour cream delivers that nostalgic flavor you cant quite replicate on your own. Keeping the dressing thicker like a dip prevents things from getting too soggy, while a good dose of fresh herbs and freshly cracked black pepper punches things up a bit.
- Pasta: Any short, chunky shape works here. You want to be able to spear it with the veggies and other mix-ins.
- Broccoli: Quickly blanch florets with the pasta the last minute of cooking to take the raw taste out while still retaining their crunch.
- Bacon: Whats a salad bar salad without bacon bits?
- Tomatoes: Salting the diced tomatoes before adding them to the salad pulls out lots of liquid, which gives you extra tomato-y flavors, plus season tomato juices that thin the dressing just enough without making it watery.
- Grated carrots: Pre-bought grated carrots are thicker and have more crunch than hand-grated, but grating carrots on the large holes of a box grater works well, too.
- Radishes: When thinly sliced, they provide great texture and bite.
- Black olives: Briny, salty black olives are a classic pizza-parlor flavor to me.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar provides the best flavor.
- Sunflower seeds: They lend salty crunch and are one of my favorite salad toppings.
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Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Is Quick Easy Make Ahead Friendly And Guaranteed To Be A Hit At Every Potluck Barbecue And Pool Party
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is the creamy pasta salad of your dreams loaded with tender pasta, loads of salty bacon, petite peas, sweet bell peppers and bite size cheddar enveloped in the showstopping homemade sour-cream laced ranch dressing. This Pasta Bacon Ranch Salad is always a crowd pleaser at potlucks, picnics and parties and is a quick chop and throw together recipe that is portable, make ahead friendly, easy to double/triple, tastes fabulous chilled or room temperature and goes with practically everything!
I Made This Recipe For My Office And Everyone Loved It Thank You So Much For Sharing ~ Amber
I confess, I wasnt sure how much I was going to like lettuce in my pasta salad, but it was a great addition. And after all, it wouldnt really be a BLT salad without the lettuce, would it?
This salad is sure to be a hit at your next backyard barbecue or neighborhood potluck! Its one of my favorite dishes to take to summer time gatherings, because it such a crowd pleaser. I mean, who doesnt love bacon?
And then theres cheese, pasta, some fresh veggies and Ranch dressing. Whats not to love about that?
Most corkscrew style pastas work well in this dish, but penne, shells and elbow macaroni are good choices too. No matter which pasta you choose, you really cant go wrong with this delicious summer salad!
You can prep most of this salad ahead of time, but I recommend that you wait until just before serving to stir in the lettuce and bacon so they stay crispy and crunchy
Plus, this Ranch BLT Pasta Salad is so easy to put together. Delicious and hassle freeit doesnt get much better than that!
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