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Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad

Source of Recipe

Southern Living


Recipe Introduction

Bacon and ranch belong together—it’s indisputable. Rich and smoky bacon makes the perfect vehicle for a sauce that’s both tangy and packed with the flavors of fresh herbs. Together, this combo offers the perfect indulgent coating for chilled cooked pasta and some sliced cherry tomatoes. We throw shredded Parmesan into the mix to add a layer of salty goodness, and fresh dill is stirred in to further brighten the pasta salad and enhance the herby taste of the ranch seasoning. A bite of this pasta salad is savory and tangy with juicy pockets of tomato and chewy bits of bacon clinging to the creamy pasta. You can use whatever noodle shape you’d like, but for sentimental reasons, we stick to traditional cavatappi or elbow pasta because it reminds us of the pasta salads made by our grandmothers. The only non-negotiable is that you use high-quality bacon because it’s incomparable in flavor and texture and elevates this pasta salad into another realm of greatness! Trust us, this bacon-heavy dish requires the best, and once you taste it, you’ll already look forward to leftovers.

List of Ingredients

° 10 slices Wright Brand bacon
° 1 cup sour cream
° ½ cup mayonnaise
° 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
° 1 (0.4-ounce) package ranch seasoning
° ¼ tsp garlic powder
° 12 ounces cooked cavatappi or elbow pasta
° 1 cup shredded Parmesan
° 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
° 2 tsp freshly chopped dill, plus more for garnish


Recipe

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with several layers of aluminum foil. Place bacon on baking sheet and transfer to oven until bacon is brown and crisp, 25 minutes.

Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Discard bacon grease and aluminum foil. Chop bacon; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, ranch seasoning, and garlic powder. Add pasta, chopped bacon, Parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and dill. Use a spatula to incorporate all ingredients. Garnish with additional dill before serving.