This is an easy but flavorful pasta salad that I'm always asked to bring to potlucks. With chunks of onion, tomato, and bacon, smothered in Ranch dressing, it is full of flavor! This salad tastes best if made several hours ahead of time.
Very yummy recipe. I now get requests for it...made a couple adjustments though...use mayonnaise and ranch dressing and add more than recipe calls for since it gets absorbed by the pasta. Also- use farfelle pasta and also add peas.
Read MoreFrom the ingredients, I thought I would have loved this but I really didn't care for it at all. Neither did anyone at the family reunion. Wont be making this again.
Read MoreVery yummy recipe. I now get requests for it...made a couple adjustments though...use mayonnaise and ranch dressing and add more than recipe calls for since it gets absorbed by the pasta. Also- use farfelle pasta and also add peas.
I like this recipe. More importantly, my husband LOVES this recipe. It is terribly simple to make, which is a plus. However, I have made a few changes as I have made this recipe again. I thought the pasta soaked up too much of the dressing as it sat and it kindof lost it's ranch flavor. I add more ranch as it sits until it is the consistency I like. Also, I started using Bacon Ranch to up the ranch flavor. Also, I use green onions instead of regular onions, and add about 2 cups of peas.
I brought this to a potluck and everyone loved it. I think it tastes best with the packaged ranch dressing mix, adding buttermilk and mayo to it, rather than bottled ranch. Also, next time I think I'd add sharp cheddar cheese to it. Yum!
I make this pretty much the same, only I do half mayo, half sour cream and add a double batch of homemade dry ranch seasoning mix. I don't usually keep shell pasta on hand--elbow macaroni is usually the pasta I'll use. I like to use either red or green onions in this salad recipe. If you can, make this earlier in the day so it has time to set and really let the flavors work together. EDITED: I make this "lighter" now making the dressing from a mixture of nonfat greek yogurt, lowfat mayonnaise and reduced fat sour cream for the dressing, turkey bacon and whole wheat pasta. My family actually prefers the lower fat version!
Very good recipe! I added chopped celery and pre-chopped the bacon before frying it. Also, the Kraft Ranch with bacon dressing tastes great for this recipe!
I also used the baccon ranch dressing. I added frozen peas, chopped celery, red onion and extra dressing. I used whole wheat pasta because its what I had on hand, and no one could tell. Everyone loved it, and it is super easy to make. Thanks for the recipe!
My husband and I loved it! We ate it for lunch several days after. We used Rotini noodles instead to add some color. (See picture)
I really liked this recipe. I have never made home-made pasta salad before. It was super easy. I really like italian dressing and my husband loves ranch.. so I did 1 cup ranch and 1/2 cup italian. It turned out wonderful. We ate it before refrigerating it and loved it. A few hours later we got it back out and it was pretty dry and not as good. We will add more dressing before eating it again. No biggie. LOVED IT!!
Great pasta salad! I used green onion and along with some cherry tomatoes, I used a whole bag of thawed petite sweet peas. I made my own ranch dressing using Hidden Valley Ranch packets, milk, and mayonaisse. After it refrigerated, it was delicious - husband loved it!
I have made this recipe several times and am very happy with it. Yes, I did add more dressing to equal out the amount of pasta, and instead of frying the pound of bacon, I just added a package of the real bacon bits. This gave me more of the 'bacon' taste I was looking for. Thanks for the recipe!
This is a great and easy salad to do. I generally don't like creamy salads, but I like this one. My husband won't eat onions, I leave them out. He's a big Ranch fan, with almost everything. He loves this ! He's 3rd Infantry so maybe its an Army thing !
OK, first of all, for those people who reviewed this recipe as bland, I think you may need your tastebuds checked by a doctor. Armywife99 is my sister, and she is literally famous around here for this salad...everyone requests it at cookouts, picnics, etc. This is the ONLY pasta salad I make, my kids and hubby adore it. It does get better the longer it sits in the fridge, and do yourself a favor...make it exactly as the recipe calls for, don't add a bunch of stuff like lettuce or cukes. I occasionally add shredded monterey jack cheese, and it is wonderful. It doesn't get any simpler or more delicious than this recipe. I dare you to eat just one spoonful...it is impossible!
I love salads and the bacon makes it especially tasty. This is an easy-to-make recipe and I like "easy". I will be making it again.
BEST PASTA SALAD I HAVE MADE SO FAR! Thank you people for the helpful comments, I read through them and followed suggestions. Here's what I did: cooked 13oz shell pasta, 1 pkg bacon, and 1/2 pkg frozen peas. Afterward I cut up 2 tomatoes and let them warm in the bacon grease, and added salt/pepper. Cooled pasta, and added 1/2 c milk to it. Added bacon ranch dressing mixed with some mayo, 3 chopped green onions, the peas, the tomatoes, the bacon, about 1.5c shredded cheddar, fresh chopped spinach (I chopped maybe 30 leaves, some more wouldn't have hurt), and a little bit of shredded chicken that I had leftover. In the words of the miz AWEEESOMEEEE *update 6/14/12 I made a "lite" version of this with shell pasta, turkey bacon, light cheese, lite ranch/mayo, tomato, spinach, peas. Couldn't taste the difference at all it was delish :D
One trick I learned about pasta salads after they have"dried" out is to add a little water and mix in. It helps to revive it without adding more dressing and calories.
Everyone asks for the recipe! A few thoughts... Undercook the pasta so it is a bit firmer than al dente. Cherry tomatoes sliced in half don't get soggy and work great... Hidden Vly Ranch Buttermilk Recipe is great in this recipe. The flavors meld beautifully when made the night before serving. Also, I cook the bacon in the oven (at 350)on a foil-lined cookie sheet. It's much cleaner and faster than frying in a pan (and comes out straight too)! Lastly, The last time I made this dish, I forgot to buy an onion. I threw in deseeded coursely chopped cucumbers instead. It was a HUGE hit with my friends (and their kids). Thanks for sharing this recipe, it's a keeper!
Yummy! I did have to make a few changes based on previous reviews ... I used 1.5 cups bacon ranch dressing and 1/2 cup creamy garlic Italian (the pasta soaks up a lot of the dressing). I also added peas and used red onion instead of regular chopped onions. I added cheddar cheese crumbles and used drained fire roasted diced tomatoes. This is a keeper in my house! Can't wait to eat leftovers.
From the ingredients, I thought I would have loved this but I really didn't care for it at all. Neither did anyone at the family reunion. Wont be making this again.
Delicious! Took it to a cookout and everyone loved it. I added peas and used bacon ranch as suggested by others.
This pasta was edible, but I still thought it needed something. I'll experiment the next time with some stronger flavors.
This was really good! Husband had three helpings and then asked when we could have it again! I used real bacon bits and it was all done in about 10 minutes!
This is a wonderful recipe that I have made at least 20 times since discovering the recipe a few years ago. It is a huge hit for picnics, BBQs, office parties, holiday meals, etc. My family loves this! Matter of fact, I've never met anyone who didn't like this recipe - get requests for the recipe all the time. My family does not, however, care for bottled light ranch dressing in this recipe, so I make up my own ranch from the little pouch. I also use a 12 oz. pkg. of bacon rather than 16 oz. - it's still plenty, and saves money. I sometimes add in some finely chopped bell pepper and celery if I have it, and have used green or red onions in place of yellow onions - just use what I have on hand.
Use pre-cooked bacon (oscar mayer real bacon bits)! Also, added chopped green onion instead of regular onion. It adds a beautiful green where the lettuce usually does in a BLT. Shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese is wonderful added, too.
This was a nice change to the standard summer picnic salads. All of my favorites in one bowl. The best part is, it last a few days, so it can be made ahead of time. Everyone wanted the recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I think that when I rate this as 5 stars, I'm rating the concept more than the actual recipe. Conceptually, this is awesome! Here are the changes I made to end up with my final product. 1. Instead of 1.5 cups of ranch-style dressing, I used two cups. 2. I used a bundle of green onions instead of a small onion. I combined cooled, cooked pasta, chopped tomatoes with seeds removed, chopped green onions and 1.5 cups of the ranch dressing the night before. And about an two hours before the party, I fried up already chopped bacon, let it cool and combined it with the pasta along with 0.5 cups of ranch dressing. Everyone loved it!!!
This was a hit. I added some peas and diced cheddar cheese as a personal preference. I also taste tested i before I took it to the shower I was throwing and added some mayo to the mix before serving as it was a little dry after sitting and seemed to need a little more umph then the ranch provided. Would def make again.
Super easy, and tasted awesome. Got great reviews, at a couple of events. AS usual a change or two. First off, used Hormel Bacon Bits (I get a huge bag from Costco--saves soo much time), used red onion, and the first time I made this, I didn't realize that I was almost out of Ranch dressing, so I mixed what I had with a cup of buttermilk, and the next day added more dressing. Still awesome. My hubby keeps asking for it. UPDATE!! I am still making his on a regular basis, but make a few changes every now and then. I use Kraft 3 cheese dressing, and is awesome, and I will use the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing! Also, I will alternate between using scallions or red onions! This is still always amazing and gets awesome reviews!!
Thanks so much for this delightful recipe. It is easy to make,and a refreshing change from other pasta salads. And best of all the family loved it! Also thanks, reviewer for the tip to just add a little water if it dries out in the fridge, that works nicely. Also, I didn't change a thing.
I used the bacon ranch dressing that someone suggested, doubled the tomatoes, and added fresh basil. I think reducing the amount of pasta by half and adding shredded lettuce would be great next time.
I made this for a potluck at work and it was one of the first things that was gone. I've made this twice now in 3 days it's soooo good! I used grape tomatoes sliced in half and made it once using vidalia onion and once using green, I like it better with the green. Thanks so much for the recipe:)
Fabulous Recipe !!! When I make a new recipe I follow it exactly as written. If I like it, I make it again with a few of my own changes. Sometimes it's better sometimes not. I liked this salad both original and with a few changes. I added a teaspoon of red pepper flakes ( in our house as long as it is spicy it's edible ) a little celery salt some black pepper and about a half of teaspoon of apple cider vinegar just for a tiny bit of tang. Oh, and of course the peas like many others did, just for some color and more nutrition. I loved using the shells, but the colored routini would look much nicer. Overall...I will be making this again and again. It was very easy to make even having to cook the bacon. I made the bacon VERY crispy ( on top of the stove ) after it cooled I just put it into a baggy and crushed it with a meat mallet. It made perfect bacon crumbs. I added the bacon right away so the flavor would meld into the salad while it sat in the fridge. You must try this recipe if you like pasta salad !!!
Don't know what I did wrong. Turned out dry and the onions were overpowering. I thought it sounded good but.....
I added peas and pepperoni and a lil garlic pepper and garlic salt and it turned out perfect! Yum Yum!
I used chopped green and red onion, and bacon bits. it is so simple. my husband raved saying it was such a great pasta salad. sure will make regularly. so easy and so good, Thanks! I'm going to add shredded cabbage to the next plate.
***** I enjoyed this recipe, but did change it a bit. It was hard not to want to put italian seasonings like the traditional pasta salad..but I kept to the recipe on the sauce part. I did add small cubes of : mozzarella and cheddar cheese and cucumber. I also added green onions and red onions, and peas. I preferred the pasta shells that had all different sorts of colored shapes which included seashells in it. It added variety and color to this tastey salad. I also used the packet hidden valley ranch mix and prepared it instead of using the bottle. I ended up using all the prepared mix instead of the 1-1/2 cups the recipe calls for. This was a very good variation from the traditional pasta salad and I will make it again.
Great recipe and i added more veggies like corn and peas...whatever i had on hand to make it a little healthier.
This is a great basic recipe. I gave it 5 stars for that alone. I've never thought it was fair when people rate something low and then change the entire recipe. But here's what I did. I used blue cheese dressing and crumbled blue cheese instead of the traditional Ranch dressing. It was fabulous and I've been asked to make this again.
I took the advice of others and mixed mayo with dry ranch, then added more ranch just before serving. Added peas, and substitutes the onions with green onions. The bowl was practically licked clean!
This was good, but I thought it would have been better. The bacon added a great taste, but not good the next day
this was a hit! thank you for providing a pasta salad recipe that everyone loved. this is not your mothers pasta salad!
I made these last week for my parents, both really enjoyed it alot, my son is a little picky he thought it was a little salty I thought it was great I did make some changes, this your receipe and works just the way you wrote it. just in my nature to add alittle this alittle that. Will make again for sure. thanks for sharing.
My husband loved this recipe! I did change it a little bit. I added some peas, sharp cheese, and mayo. It was grand!
My kids LOVE this pasta salad! It's tasty and simple to prepare. Sometimes I substitute fusilli noodles for the shells. Thanks!
When my husband, who dislikes most cold side salads, declared 5 stars after only a couple of bites, I knew I had a winner on my hands. Very easy to prepare. I was surprised to find bacon ranch in my fridge, so that's what I used. I halved the recipe, and I know there were more than 5 servings there.
Very easy and simple to make. Followed this recipe exactly. Every time I make this it's always gone. Tip- Taste better when it is cold for several hours before serving.
Loved it! Great flavor and salad stayed nice and creamy even after refrigeration. I add frozen peas just to give it a little extra something and used real bacon bits instead of frying up my own bacon and it tasted just fine. Definitely a keeper that I will make again!
Very yummy! My husband loved it. It would also be great for a potluck or anything of the sort! I will refrain to adding the bacon to it until its ready to be served and the longer it chills the more flavor it has! I also added extra ranch so it was nice and creamy! Very fast and easy to make!
For the "L" ingredient I used 8 ozs of torn fresh baby spinach. It makes a colorful presentation. Quick & easy - this is a keeper!
Very easy and yummy recipe. Great one to bring to a BBQ. I used whole wheat pasta, green onion and added some diced chedder cheese. I reserved some of the dressing and tossed it with the salad about 30 minutes before serving because I figured if I added it all in at once, the pasta would absorb all the dressing. Glad I did it this way, it turned out nice and creamy.
Nice recipe base - I made it my own based on what I had on hand... using halved grape tomatoes, orzo, scallions... adding some light sour cream and a bit of mayo in with the dressing...and dill, and garlic powder (good quality...makes all the difference). I also just stirred the bacon in. And I happened to have a little chicken left over from a rotisserie chicken, so I tossed that in. Like any pasta salad, flavors do come together a bit more over time... but it also soaks up the dressing. Since it ended up just being me and my BF eating it, I just left it as is. Flavors were great :) mmm...bacon!
EXCELLENT! Everyone loved this salad! I used green onions and added avocado and an extra pound of bacon :) I would also reccomend using the ranch mix insteard of pre-made dressing. You can not miss with this recipe! ROCK ON!
I have made this now 3 times, the last time I used Chunky Blue Cheese dressing as requested by my co-workers, we loved it! Will add extra Blue Cheese crumbles next time. Thanks for this great recipe, many ways to change it up to make it fresh each time.
Not bad at all! I just missed the L in BLT and added some arugula. I also added some parmesan but i wouldn't advise it, flavours become too conflicting.
This is a very tasty dish. I made a few modifications. Instead of onion I used about 3/4 cup green onion. I added what I thought should be used directly to the pasta. I then seasoned to taste with Morton's Season Blend. This added a delightdul flavor to the dish. I used Regular Ranch dressing and extra wide egg noodles. The family loved it!
I thought this recipe was great..and it was soo easy to make!! I love the Ranch dressing in it :>) Though I did add a stalk of celery, otherwise everything else was the same. Thanks sooo much for sharing it!!
I just made this pasta. Not sure why it is called BLT, as I don't have any L, but it is still really quick and easy. I did make modifications. They were as follows: Instead of fresh cooked bacon, I used a package of real bacon pieces. Instead of a small onion, I used a bunch of green onions. Instead of prepared ranch dressing, I used ranch dressing II by Dawnia on this site (replacing sour cream with buttermilk). I know it is annoying when people do things different than the recipe, but I much prefer homemade ranch over store purchased, I didn't have bacon and like green onions over other kinds. My son had a ball "helping" me cook this and only took a few minutes to throw together (even making the ranch).
I was seriously shocked on how AWESOME this salad is, was!!! I made it for a BBQ we were invited to and it was the ONLY salad that was eaten completely! I too used the soft bacon bits (generic form) because I was to lazy to cook it up on my own, I also used regular ranch not the lite.. Ya Ya more calories but it was WAY WAY GOOD!!!! This is a KEEPER!!!
I think that this pasta was excellent! Its way better then the normal pasta salad. I think it could do with out the onions, and my family and I just put bacon bits on top. We felt no need to cook bacon. Yet it was still good!!!
This is very easy to make and quick .. its good cold or warm ... I'd definitely make this one again.
Very tasty and so easy! Dressed it up a bit by adding green onion and celery, and used sliced grape tomatoes for sweetness. Yum!
I added chicken breast as well as green onions and it was AMAZING!!! DEF will make again!!!
I used Bacon Ranch dressing because that's what I had on hand and green onions because of personal preference and this salad was great. Simple, fast and flavorful. Thanks, Zetia, for sharing!
I made this for a picnic last weekend. I added a couple of avacados for extra flavor. I think that if I make this again, I might add a little grated cheese, and maybe a dash of garlic powder.
Very easy to make...my husband loved this! I added peas, more ranch and used real bacon bits instead of crumbling bacon, which made it even easier. Add salt and pepper and refrigerate overnight.
I thought this recipe was great. As others have, I added a few extras of my own. I used cucumber, shredded sharp cheddar cheese and peas. I also used Hidden Valley bacon ranch dressing. Everyone loved it. Thanks!!!
loved this one - everyone in the family enjoyed it - we used red onion and added fresh spinach - it was fantastic
This is one of the salads I make that I get a lot of request for. It is very good. As it is written it serves a lot more than 10, more like 20 people. I use bowtie pasta, 3/4 cup bacon ranch drsg and 3/4 cup mayo instead of all ranch. I also used green onions instead of regular onions. Always a hit!
SO good and so easy! Here are my little changes: I used half ranch half mayo and add more than it says too because yes it does soak up a lot! Also I added peas and cheese. I think I've already made this recipe 4 times! Everyone LOVES it!
Made this on a whim a few years ago, but put nothing in it than what is in a BLT (bacon, iceberg lettuce, tomato and mayo) and use Geminelli pasta.
Made this to try something new from my usual mac salad. I thought it would be delish, but I just didn't like the flavors. My family felt the same way.
Very yummy and easy to make. I cut the salad dressing in half and added a little bit of shredded cheese. Also used two bunches of green onions instead and added an extra tomatoe. Great recipe, thanks.....
I did make a few adjustments just because of personal preference. 1. I added peas 2. I only used a small amount of onion. 3. I only had regular ranch so I added a few tablespoons of Mayo. I made this for dinner and didn't have time to let it set for an hour and it still turned out great! Can't wait to try it tomorrow!
This is an easy pasta salad recipe that goes great at any cookout. I substituted green onion to add a little color to the salad. I also cut grape tomotoes in half instead of using regular ones to make the prep time faster. This is delicious!!
I was going to make 1/2 recipe but after cooking 1/2 the pasta and bacon I decided to go for the whole thing. I read many suggestions and substituted 3 green onions, bought grape tomatoes, some finely grated sharp cheddar cheese, and a package of baby spinach. Also added 1/2 c. mayo. Refrigerated it overnight. Added spinach to mixture and topped with bacon right before serving. Didn't need any extra Ranch dressing. This salad is big! It filled a 4 qt. glass bowl. It was all gone except for a portion that my husband can eat for two separate lunches, and he doesn't eat a big lunch. By far the hardest thing to do was to cook the lb. of bacon until it was really crispy and to cut that bacon up into small pieces. I seldom have a use for salads such as this, but if I did, I would certainly make it again.
This is a delicious salad that is easy yet impressive! The only problem I even have with the recipe is the name--it's not a BLT! So, I'd say having that minor of a "gripe" means this is a dish you need to try! By the way--I added a handful of frozen peas when I was making it and I think it made the dish even better!
I made this as written except used regular Ranch as that is what I had and grape tomatoes. You can do a lot with this recipe or keep it as is. I like the idea of adding some lettuce and peas. The recipe makes alot & I thought I would give that a try with the left overs. It will stay in my recipe box.thx
Add some finely shredded lettuce before serving and do as others suggested....increase the dressing.
Made this yesterday - YUMM! I did add frozen peas a little bit of fresh basil since I have a ton in my garden. Also about 1/2 cup of sour cream. I didn't have shells on hand so I used the mini wagon wheels and everything turned out great! Even my picky 13 yo. loved it - but picked out the tomatoes! Oh well....
Love this, I used the green onion, bacon ranch dressing and added black olives. I had some cheddar cheese on hand so I diced it. This is my new favorite pasta salad, thanks!!
I thought this recipe was okay, but nothing special. I used some fresh chives, as well as onions, tomatoes, bacon and the Hidden Valley ranch packet. While I thought it was okay, I just didn't think it was good enough to bother making again. And that point was proved when I took it to a cook out and hardly anyone touch it.
Very easy and quick pasta salad to make. I used Bacon Ranch salad dressing and used scallions instead of onions. I did have to add more ranch dressing after it sat in the fridge as the pasta soaked up alot of the dressing. This recipe makes alot, perfect for a potluck or picnic.
I really enjoy this easy to make pasta salad. I thought that the ranch would be a little to blan for me so I added about a tbls of Hidden Valley Fiesta Party dip and it added a great flavor!
not sure what I did wrong, I followed other people's advice and added peas....it was not tasty at all.
This recipe was so easy and so flavorful, even though I left out the onion. This will definitely be made again.
Very good and easy!! Everyone hates tomatoes but me so substituted peas in the salad. I used mayo, milk and a package of hidden valley ranch whipped together. Very tasty and easy, will make again!
