Cilantro Ranch Pasta Salad - The Keep At House Chef

This isn’t your typical grocery retailer pasta salad. We’ve taken a primary pasta salad and dressed it up! This recipe is such a sport changer—it’s simple to whip up, and also you’ll need this cilantro ranch dressing on all the things. We wish to make a giant batch on Sunday and eat it all through the week.

When you love this recipe, try our scrumptious Classic Italian Pasta Salad.

Why Our Recipe

You’ll wish to put this home made cilantro-lime ranch on all the things!
Loaded with veggies, cheese, and bacon, so nobody leaves hungry.
Simple to prep the night time earlier than and able to throw collectively while you want it!

Closeup of cilantro ranch pasta salad being grabbed tongs.

We’re completely having fun with the hotter climate over right here at The Keep At House Chef. Our household at all times stays busy, leaving us to incessantly look by the fridge 5 minutes earlier than lunch, hoping to seek out one thing we will throw collectively. This one is nice for a fast, last-minute meal, or makes an ideal addition to any potluck or yard barbecue.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients used to make Cilantro ranch pasta salad.

Bowtie Pasta: We love bowtie pasta in pasta salad, however you should use rotini, shells, radiatorre, or macaroni.
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: Both one works. Reduce them in halves or quarters so that you get the proper chunk. A mixture of purple and yellow tomatoes seems to be actually fairly too.
Cheddar Cheese: When you don’t like cheddar, different nice choices embrace mozzarella (contemporary mini balls or shredded), Monterey jack, or pepper jack.
English Cucumber: These have extra taste and fewer seeds than common cucumbers, however each can be utilized.
Crimson Onion: Crimson onions are the most effective for consuming uncooked.
Bacon: Crumble it up! Prepare dinner your personal or seize the pre-cooked variety.
Avocado: Add them if you happen to love them, and go away them out if you happen to don’t.
Salsa Verde: Seize a jar of your favourite gentle or medium salsa verde. Use no matter warmth stage you want.
Mayonnaise: Substitute with Greek yogurt, low-fat mayo, or Miracle Whip.
Lime Juice: Recent-squeezed is at all times going to have the most effective taste, however bottled lime juice works too.

Pasta Choices

We love this salad with bowtie pasta for its heartier chunk, however you’ll be able to actually use any pasta you want. Penne, rotini, cavatappi, elbow, and shells are all nice choices that maintain that scrumptious sauce effectively.

Non-compulsory Add-Ins

Meat: Not a fan of bacon? No downside. You’ll be able to simply add some grilled rooster, floor turkey or beef, and even some sliced salami as a substitute.

Veggies: We love an excellent crunch to our pasta salads. When you’re seeking to load up with extra veggies, peppers, corn, and olives all pair effectively with this recipe’s elements.

Beans: Add some extra substance to your salad! Beans are a good way to make this pasta salad a bit extra hearty and filling. We advocate black and kidney beans.

Cheese: Be happy to make use of your favourite cheese. We love the sharpness of cheddar cheese, however you should use mozzarella for a milder choice, or spice it up and use pepper jack!

Cilantro ranch being poured onto the pasta salad.

Make-Forward Directions

This salad’s tremendous simple to make forward. You’ll be able to whip up the dressing 1 to 2 days early and stash it within the fridge. Prepare dinner the pasta and bacon the night time earlier than, too. Simply maintain them separate so all the things stays contemporary. If you’re able to eat, all you’ve obtained to do is chop the cheese and veggies and toss all of it collectively in a giant bowl. Carried out and finished.