Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

My youngest son, Finn, loves pasta salad. He would eat it every day if he had his way. And of course, I love it too, especially during the hot summer months. This creamy ranch pasta salad is filling, but not heavy. This recipe is especially cool and creamy and packed with flavor.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces rotini pasta

• 1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cup cucumber, diced

• ¼ cup sliced green onions

• ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 ¼ cups homemade ranch dressing

Method

1. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente.

2. Drain and immediately toss the warm pasta with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.

3. Let cool for 10–15 minutes.

4. Combine the pasta, cheddar, tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, and bacon in a large bowl.

5. Whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.

6. Toss the salad with the dressing until evenly coated.

7. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Add more ranch before serving if the pasta salad seems too dry.

Variations

This recipe is easy to modify according to your own taste with your favorite things. Adding diced chicken makes this pasta salad hearty enough for a light summer meal.