Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Submitted by senseicheryl

"Remember the Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad? This is close... but better. Careful, though - its pretty addictive! This recipe and many others can be found at the www.recipe4living.com website."

 

• Ready In: 10mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 1 large salad

ingredients

• 2 cups pasta (uncooked shells)
• 5 baby carrots, shredded (or 1 large regular carrot)
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 3⁄4 cup mayonnaise, more if desired but NOT miracle whip
• 1 ounce hidden valley ranch dressing mix (or 1/2 of a .4 oz. package of the buttermilk version)
• 1⁄4 cup bacon bits (I use Hormel REAL bacon bits or pieces)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder

directions

1. In large bowl, mix mayo, dressing mix, bacon bits, shredded carrots and onion powder. Chill this mixture while you continue making the rest of the salad.
2. Cook pasta al dente, drain and cool. Fold in pasta carefully.
3. Gently fold in peas last.
4. Chill for several hours and serve chilled or at room temperature.
5. Refresh salad if needed with a tiny bit of mayo, but it usually doesn't need it.
6. Garnish top with more bacon bits pieces. You can never have too much bacon.

Reviews

[Stephsfanny]

Quick, easy, and yummy! I added a spoonful of sour cream with the mayo and a can of cooked chicken breast chunks, to make it a little more hearty. I was thinking sliced olives and green onions or chives might be a good addition, too.

 

[gardenmomof3]

I was looking for a homemade Suddenly Salad type and this was it. I didn't have any packets of ranch mix but had a big jar of the same thing that I bought from Sam's. I used 1 and 1/2 Tbs. of the mix. I'm guessing it would be about 1/2 of what would be in a packet. I also didn't have any carrots to shred but I did have frozen peas and carots mixed together so I used that. I cooked the peas and carrots in with the pasta. I thought it was very good.

 

[bmcnichol]

This was good and easy to make but this ended up a bit salty for us. I added more mayo and then we liked it better. I followed the recipe as written other then I didn't add the peas. This was a nice, different salad. We all enjoyed this.

 

[Beth A.]

One of my husband's favorite pasta salads. I add a little shredded cheddar cheese to mine, as well. Very tasty! :)

 

[3boys-and-me]

This was very good and easy! My kids ate it like crazy and it was a great way to sneak in some veggies! Thanks!