Ingredients
– 10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, with reserved grease
– 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta, cooked and cooled
– ½ cup mayonnaise
– ¾ cup ranch dressing
– 1 ½ cups diced fresh tomatoes
– ½ avocado, diced
– 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– ⅓ cup diced red onion
– 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
– Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1-First, cook 12 ounces of rotini or penne pasta according to package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
2-Next, cook 10 slices of bacon until crispy, reserving some grease for the dressing if desired.
3-Once done, crumble the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
4-In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with 1 ½ cups diced fresh tomatoes, ½ diced avocado, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, ⅓ cup diced red onion, and 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce.
5-For the dressing, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ¾ cup ranch dressing, and 1 tablespoon of the reserved bacon grease if using.
6-Pour the dressing over the mixed ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
7-Finally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if you like, and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. This step allows the flavors to meld, making it even more enjoyable.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🥄 Use rotini pasta to help trap the dressing; alternatives include bow tie pasta or cheese-filled tortellini.
🧴 Homemade dressing with mayo and ranch offers better flavor than store-bought.
🍗 Substitute turkey bacon for a leaner option or add extra veggies and proteins as preferred.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Omnivore
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 502
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 628mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 42mg