Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Tips & suggestions

• To cook the bacon, either cook whole slices and then drain them and crumble them when crisp, or slice the bacon into chunks and then cook it until crisp.
• Sharp cheddar cheese works really well in this recipe, but any kind of cheese is tasty in it. Save a bit to sprinkle on top.
• Don’t like peas or olives? Skip them!
• If your pasta salad looks a bit dry after sitting in the fridge, add a bit of milk and mix it up, and it should get nice and creamy again.
• A bit of sliced green onion is tasty in this salad if you like onion.

How to make this salad ahead of time

This salad is super easy to prep, even up to a few days ahead of time. This is what I do:

• I boil, drain, and chill the pasta, then put it into a large bowl.
• I mix the dressing and keep it separate in the fridge.
• Add the crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, peas, cheese, and olives to the top of the pasta without mixing it in.
• Pop everything into the fridge and mix it together about 2 hours before serving.

Serving suggestions

This is a hearty and colorful pasta salad, and it is great as a side dish or main event. I love serving it alongside BBQ chicken or grilled salmon. It is equally delicious next to sandwiches or serve a portion with a hearty bowl of soup.