Description
Creamy ranch pasta salad delivers a zesty summer sensation packed with crisp vegetables and tangy dressing. Cool and satisfying, this crowd-pleasing dish invites you to savor each refreshing bite at picnics, potlucks, or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) tri color rotini pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- 1.5 cups (180 grams) broccoli florets, finely diced
Dairy Components:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) sour cream
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
Seasoning:
- 1 ounce (28 grams) packet ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a vigorous boil. Add tri-color rotini and cook until perfectly al dente according to package directions. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and prevent pasta from clumping.
- Prepare a spacious mixing bowl by adding finely diced red bell pepper, cucumber chunks, and broccoli florets. These colorful vegetables provide textural contrast and visual appeal. Incorporate cooled pasta, gently folding ingredients together.
- Create ranch dressing by whisking mayonnaise, sour cream, and ranch seasoning packet until smooth and consistent. The creamy mixture will bind all components with rich, tangy flavor.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over pasta and vegetable mixture, thoroughly coating each ingredient. Mix carefully to distribute dressing evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning subtly, remembering the ranch packet already contributes significant flavor.
- Refrigerate salad for 1-2 hours, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop deeper taste profiles. Chilling also ensures a refreshing temperature when serving.
- Store any remaining salad in a sealed container within the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture, noting flavors will continue to meld during storage.
Notes
- Rinse pasta thoroughly with cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping, ensuring a perfect texture for your salad.
- Dice vegetables uniformly to create a balanced bite and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Adjust ranch dressing thickness by adding a splash of milk if it seems too thick, creating a smoother coating for the pasta.
- Customize the salad by swapping vegetables based on seasonal availability or personal preference, keeping the core recipe intact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg