Description
A flavorful and easy-to-make Crack Pasta Salad combining penne pasta with a creamy ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh parsley, perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 1 (16-oz) box penne pasta
For the Dressing and Mix-ins
- ⅔ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 (1-oz) package ranch dressing mix
- ½ cup cooked chopped bacon
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and allow it to cool completely to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, buttermilk, mayonnaise, and ranch dressing mix until smooth and creamy, ensuring all ingredients are fully combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooled pasta, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped cooked bacon, and fresh parsley to the dressing. Toss everything thoroughly until the pasta is well coated with the dressing and all mix-ins are evenly distributed.
- Chill: Cover the salad tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, prepare the salad at least 8 hours in advance or overnight.
- Make sure pasta is completely cooled before mixing to keep the salad from becoming watery.
- You can substitute mayonnaise with a lighter version to reduce fat content.
- Feel free to add chopped green onions or diced bell pepper for extra crunch and flavor.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Crack pasta salad, penne pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, ranch pasta salad, make-ahead pasta salad
