Description
Creamy dill pickle bacon ranch pasta delivers a tangy twist on classic comfort food. Crispy bacon and zesty ranch create an irresistible blend you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats and Proteins:
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
Pasta and Cheese:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rotini or elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups cubed sharp cheddar cheese
Seasonings, Sauces, and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
- 2 cups diced dill pickles
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup diced green onions
Instructions
- Submerge pasta in vigorously boiling, salted water and cook until it reaches a tender yet firm texture. Carefully drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Create a creamy base by whisking mayonnaise with ranch seasoning, pickle brine, aromatic garlic powder, and freshly ground black pepper until the mixture transforms into a smooth, tangy sauce.
- Fold the cooled pasta into the prepared dressing, incorporating crispy bacon fragments, finely chopped dill pickles, chunky cheddar cubes, and thinly sliced green onions. Gently toss the ingredients to ensure each morsel is generously coated with the zesty dressing.
- Seal the pasta mixture in an airtight container and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes, allowing the complex flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Before serving, give the chilled pasta salad a light, careful stir to redistribute the dressing and ingredients. Present the dish cold for maximum flavor impact and refreshing texture.
Notes
- Choose short pasta shapes like rotini or penne to help dressing cling better and create more flavor pockets.
- For a lighter version, swap mayo with Greek yogurt or sour cream to reduce calories while maintaining creamy texture.
- Vegetarian option works perfectly by replacing bacon with crispy roasted chickpeas or smoked tempeh for protein and crunch.
- Make ahead friendly – this pasta salad tastes even better after 24 hours, allowing flavors to intensify and develop deeper complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 658
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1042 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg