Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon or Ham
Creamy ranch pasta salad with bacon or ham, cheddar, and veggies—perfect for potlucks, cookouts, or easy make-ahead meals.
Ranch pasta salad is always a hit, and an excellent choice when you need something to take to a cookout or potluck dinner. The ranch-style dressing mixture with sour cream and mayonnaise makes the salad perfectly creamy and delicious, and it is super easy to make. It just requires cooking the pasta and chopping and slicing some vegetables. Everyone will love this pasta salad!
A ranch pasta salad is versatile, too. If you don’t want the typical bacon ingredient, add diced cooked ham, salami, or pepperoni. Or use diced turkey ham. Black olives give it extra flavor as well, but feel free to leave them out or replace them with another vegetable, such as sliced red onions, cucumber, or shredded carrots. Sliced or whole pickled pepperoncini peppers is another tangy, spicy ingredient that would be amazing in this salad.
Serve this salad with burgers, pulled pork, fried chicken, grilled steak or chicken, hot dogs, or chops. If you like a variety of salads for the table, make an egg and potato salad and creamy coleslaw to go with it. The recipe is easy to double or triple for a crowd!
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Super flavorful. Ranch mix, cheddar, and bacon or ham make every bite satisfying.
Great texture. Rotini, tomatoes, celery, and olives add crunch and freshness.
Perfect make-ahead. Best served chilled, so it’s ideal for potlucks and prepping ahead.
Easy to customize. Swap in different veggies, cheeses, or proteins.
Ingredient Notes
- Rotini pasta – Holds the creamy dressing well thanks to its spirals.
- Cherry tomatoes – Add color and freshness; grape tomatoes work too.
- Celery – Gives essential crunch.
- Bacon or ham – Use whichever you have; both add salty, savory flavor.
- Black olives – Bring a mild briny note.
- Green onions – Optional, but great for a little sharpness.
- Cheddar cheese – Mild or sharp shreds both work.
- Mayonnaise & sour cream – Form a creamy base for the dressing.
- Ranch dressing mix – Provides all the herbs and seasoning in one packet.
Steps to Make Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon or Ham
- Cook the pasta and rinse in cold water to cool it quickly.
- Combine the tomatoes, celery, bacon or ham, olives, green onions, and cheese in a large bowl.
- Add the cooled pasta and toss everything together.
- Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch mix in a separate bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Tips
- Rinse the pasta. Cooling it keeps the salad from becoming gummy.
- Chill before serving. The flavors improve after at least an hour in the refrigerator.
- Add dressing gradually. Start with most of it and add more if needed.
- Prep the bacon well. Use crisp bacon to maintain texture.
- Make it lighter. Use part Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
Recipe Variations
- Loaded ranch version. Add chopped bell pepper and extra cheddar.
- Southwest twist. Add corn, black beans, and a pinch of chili powder.
- Ham-only. Skip the bacon for a milder flavor.
- Turkey bacon. A lighter but still flavorful option.
- Creamier style. Add an extra spoonful of sour cream or mayo.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve alongside grilled chicken, burgers, or ribs.
- Pair with sandwiches or wraps for lunch.
- Add extra tomatoes or fresh herbs before serving.
- Garnish with more shredded cheese or bacon crumbles.
How to Store
Refrigerate the pasta salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Stir before serving, and add a spoonful of mayonnaise or sour cream if it becomes too dry.
This dish is not suitable for freezing, as the vegetables and dressing will change texture.
You might also like this hearty macaroni salad with ham or this colorful rotini pasta salad. This broccoli crunch salad is another great crowd-pleaser.
Ranch Pasta Salad With Bacon or Ham
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
- 3/4 cup celery, diced
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon , crumbled, or diced ham
- 1/3 cup black olives, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced, optional
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
Instructions
- Cook the rotini in boiling, generously salted water following the package directions; drain thoroughly in a mesh strainer and rinse with cold water or dunk the strainer in a big bowl of ice water stop the cooking process quickly. Set aside.
- In a large bowl (2 to 3-quart) combine the tomatoes, celery, bacon or ham, black olives, green onions, if using, and cheese. Toss and add the pasta; mix well.
- In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat thoroughly.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
