Imagine if you will, a great tasting pasta dish that includes bacon, pasta, peas and ranch dressing. That is not a dream, you can make it yourself and I have the perfect recipe for this dish. I don’t know about you, but in our house there is never enough Ranch dressing. It seems to be used for everything! Dare I say it, I think my kids drink it. It does not matter how much I buy, it is always gone. So, unless there is a Ranch dressing thief hiding in my house…it has to be the kids and hubby.
So this pasta is going to blow your family’s socks right off their feet! The taste is perfect, the pairings of the ingredients are top notch and nothing needs to be said about the pasta! It is just the perfect all around combination of textures and flavors that cannot be made any better than this.
This is a great meal on a hot day, when you do not feel like cooking. It also makes a great side dish for any type of grilled meat. My family likes this to be served with cold meatloaf sandwiches or roast beef sandwiches for a simple and easy meal.
Little do they realize that that also helps clear out the leftovers from a previous night. I like to have sliced tomatoes on the side, with this pasta dish. It completes it as a refreshing cool salad. I am likely to serve this with chilled watermelon for dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can this dish be made in advance?
Unlike many of the recipes that I share, this one is best eaten when freshly made. That is not to say people do not like it the next day, many do since the flavors combine and meld together more.
Can I serve immediately?
This pasta dish is best when it has been chilled for at least 2 hours. The flavor is better when it has had a chance to mix together for a bit.
What type of pasta should I use?
Normally I would scream Macaroni! Not this time though. For this dish, I love the small shell pasta. Each shell has that little cup that holds some of the delicious sauce in it. That is what we all want right?
What ingredients do you need for Ranch with Bacon, Peas and Pasta
8 ounces Small shell pasta, cooked according to directions, drained, rinsed and cooled
2 cups peas, (I prefer to use frozen peas, they taste fresh and are not mushy)
6 strips of cooked bacon, chopped
2 green onions sliced
1 small carrot, peeled and grated
½ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of mayonnaise
2 tbsp Ranch seasoning powder mix
How to make Ranch with Bacon, Peas and Pasta
FIRST STEP:
Cook the pasta according to the package directions
SECOND STEP:
Fry the bacon, set aside to cool and then chop into pieces
THIRD STEP:
When pasta is done, drain and rinse with cold water, set in the refrigerator for a few minutes
FOURTH STEP:
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, peas, bacon crumbles, mayonnaise, Ranch seasoning, grated carrots and the cheese
a)
b)
c)
Stir to combine and mix well.
FIFTH STEP:
Top with more cheese and crumbled bacon.
Enjoy!
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