This creamy pasta salad with ranch dressing is full of flavour and texture.
Broccoli and peas give it a pleasant crunch, while cucumber adds freshness and bite. The red onion lends a sharp note that contrasts beautifully with the creamy ranch dressing. Crisp bacon and feta bring the salty element that rounds the salad off nicely.
I make my ranch dressing without buttermilk, as I find it turns out on the thin side otherwise. I rarely use buttermilk, so I prefer to season with lemon instead. Feel free to add buttermilk if you like.
The pasta salad is easy to make and tastes wonderful. It is perfect alongside a barbecue, as a main-course salad or on a tapas table. It can be made ahead or served straight away, which makes it ideal for busy weekdays or for impressing guests at the dinner table.
Creamy pasta salad with ranch dressing
Ingredients
Pasta salad
- 250 g pasta, dry weight
- 200 g bacon, diced
- 250 g broccoli, cut into small florets
- 150 g frozen peas, thawed
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1 small red onion, cut into thin strips
- 150 g feta or feta-style salad cheese, cubed
Dressing
- 300 ml crème fraîche
- 100 ml good-quality mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, then rinse it under cold water until completely cooled. Leave it to drain in a sieve.
- Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a pan until crisp, then leave it to drain on kitchen paper.
- Mix the ingredients for the dressing and season to taste with lemon, salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl – pasta, bacon and vegetables – and toss well with the dressing.*I usually pour boiling water over the broccoli and then ice-cold water. You can also cook it a little longer if you prefer it not completely raw. Pat the florets thoroughly dry before tossing them into the salad.
- Serve the salad straight away, or keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Premium
Hvad er det for en krydderurt du har på toppen? 🙂
Hej Line
Bare et lille drys persille for synets skyld, det er ikke et must 🙂
Warm wishes, Dianna
Super Go!
Hej Merete
Hvor er det dejligt du skriver det – tusind tak 🙂
Warm wishes, Dianna
Rigtig dejlig pastasalat
Tusind tak for de søde ord Susanne:)
Warm wishes, Dianna
Jeg glemte jo stjernerne – så her er de
Mega lækker opskrift Tak for alle de dejlige opskrifter.
Vi fik frikadeller til pastasalaten. Min mand var så vild med den, at han kom resten af den i en bøtte sammen med en pk. kyllingepålæg med urter til madpakken i morgen
Super lækker salat
Hej Maiken
Det er jeg virkelig glad for at høre – tusind tak 🙂
Warm wishes, Dianna
De der pastasalater mmmmm:-)