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Labor Day Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad - featured image

Grandmas Labor Day Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

  • Author: Lara
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

A rich, creamy pasta salad featuring rotini, thick-cut bacon, and a homemade ranch dressing made with mayo, sour cream, and buttermilk. This make-ahead dish is perfect for summer gatherings and improves in flavor overnight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) Rotini or Fusilli Pasta
  • 12 oz (340g) Thick-Cut Bacon
  • 1 cup (240g) Mayonnaise (full-fat)
  • ½ cup (120g) Sour Cream
  • ¼ cup (60ml) Buttermilk
  • 1 packet (1 oz / 28g) Dried Ranch Dressing Mix
  • 1 tsp (5g) Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp (1g) Dill Weed
  • 4 stalks Green Onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 stalks Celery, finely diced

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side until crisp but chewy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool completely, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes).
  3. Drain pasta immediately and rinse under cold water for 30 seconds to stop cooking and remove excess starch. Let cool.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dried ranch mix, garlic powder, and dill weed until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add the cooled pasta to the dressing and toss gently but thoroughly to coat every noodle.
  6. Fold in the crumbled bacon, diced celery, and sliced green onions.
  7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
  8. Before serving, give the salad a final toss. If the dressing has thickened, add a splash of buttermilk or mayo to loosen it.

Notes

Do not skip the cold rinse on the pasta to prevent the dressing from becoming oily. For best results, make the salad the night before to allow flavors to meld. Do not freeze this salad as the mayo and sour cream will separate. If the dressing is too thick after chilling, add more buttermilk or milk.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1.5 cups
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 4
  • Sodium: 650
  • Fat: 24
  • Saturated Fat: 10
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 12

Keywords: pasta salad, bacon ranch, labor day recipe, summer side dish, make ahead salad, creamy pasta salad, family recipe

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Find it online: https://alldinnerecipes.com/grandmas-labor-day-creamy-bacon-ranch-pasta-salad/