Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
This Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad is the perfect summer salad on a hot day. It is an easy make ahead side or appetizer for any BBQ or Cookout!
Growing up the best part of any restaurant was the salad bar. Our mom would purposefully choose a restaurant with the salad bar and get multiple plates for us to share instead of paying for each of us to have our own. This saved a lot of money especially since all we cared about was the pasta salad and not the actual salad. My families personal favorite salad bar was from Ruby Tuesday. If you have ever been there you will be familiar with not only their amazing pasta salad but also their croutons. I would get a plate filled with croutons and pasta salad and drench both in ranch dressing. This is a copycat recipe that is even better!
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowl ( I like using these so I can mix and store in the same bowl )
- Large Saucepan or Small Dutch oven
- Colander
- Paper Towels
- Measuring Cups
Tips and Tricks
1. This pasta salad is best made ahead of time so it has time to chill and flavors to meld. This will however dry out the pasta mixture. I like to dress the pasta salad with the amount listed in ingredients list. Once I am getting ready to serve it I like to add some mayo and ranch dressing and toss until wet and creamy again.
2. Make sure you cook your pasta a couple extra minutes to make sure noodles with be soft and not crunchy or undercooked. You don’t want to cook it al dente since you will be serving it chilled.
Ingredients
- Rotini Noodles
- Mayonnaise
- Season Salt
- Diced Ham
- Peas
- Ranch Dressing
Step by Step Instructions
- Boil Rotini Pasta using direction on box. I like to boil mine about 2 minutes longer than the package suggest. You don’t want your pasta noodles to be cooked al dente when chilling them. Once pasta has cooked drain the noodles in a colander and immediately run under cold water. Set aside.
- Place paper towels on a plate and drain diced ham. Be sure to pat dry if extremely wet.
- In a mixing bowl combine mayo, ranch dressing and season salt. Stir in ham and peas. Then add cooled noodles and stir. Add ranch dressing or mayo until desired consistency.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad is a summer staple for any cookout or BBQ. Its an easy and delicious make ahead side item that is refreshing and tasty!
Ingredients
- 1- 16 oz Box Rotini Pasta
- 1/3-1/2 cup Frozen Peas
- 1- 8 oz bag Diced Ham (Drained)
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup Ranch Dressing
- 1 tsp Season Salt
Instructions
- Boil Rotini Pasta using direction on box. I like to boil mine about 2 minutes longer than the package suggest. You don't want your pasta noodles to be cooked al dente when chilling them. Once pasta has cooked drain the noodles in a colander and immediately run under cold water. Set aside.
- Place paper towels on a plate and drain diced ham. Be sure to pat dry if extremely wet.
- In a mixing bowl combine mayo, ranch dressing and season salt. Stir in ham and peas. Then add cooled noodles and stir. Add ranch dressing or mayo until desired consistency.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
1. This pasta salad is best made ahead of time so it has time to chill and flavors to meld. This will however dry out the pasta mixture. I like to dress the pasta salad with the amount listed in ingredients list. Once I am getting ready to serve it I like to add some mayo and ranch dressing and toss until wet and creamy again.
2. Make sure you cook your pasta a couple extra minutes to make sure noodles with be soft and not crunchy or undercooked. You don't want to cook it al dente since you will be serving it chilled.
