Addictive Crack Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Creamy pasta salad with crispy bacon, cheddar, and ranch. Perfect for cookouts.

# What You Need:

01 - 12 oz rotini or elbow macaroni

02 - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

03 - 1 cup sour cream

04 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise

05 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix

06 - 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled

07 - 2/3 cup frozen peas, thawed

08 - 3 stalks green onions, sliced thin

09 - Extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions

01 - Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.

02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning until smooth.

03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl, then fold in cheddar cheese, bacon, peas, and green onions. Toss well to combine.

04 - Chill pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.

05 - Garnish with extra bacon, cheddar, or green onions before serving, if desired. Serve cold.

01 -

The ranch dressing clings to every twist of pasta, ensuring no bland bites exist
Bacon and cheddar create this savory addictive quality that keeps people coming back for seconds
It actually tastes better after chilling, making it perfect for meal prep and make ahead gatherings

02 -

Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water after draining, or the residual heat will make your dairy based dressing separate and turn oily
The salad needs that minimum hour of chilling time to reach its full potential, so plan accordingly and don't rush this step

03 -

Cook your bacon in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes for perfectly even crispy results without the stovetop mess
Thaw frozen peas by placing them in a colander under cool running water for just a minute