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Creamy ranch pasta salad with colorful vegetables in a white bowl

Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad

This creamy ranch pasta salad is the perfect make-ahead dish for backyard cookouts. Packed with fresh vegetables and a tangy homemade ranch dressing, it's quick to prepare and always disappears fast.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 medium cucumber diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 red onion finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (usually 8-10 minutes).
  2. While the pasta cooks, prepare your vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, finely chop the red onion, and chop the fresh parsley.
  3. Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, fresh dill, garlic powder, onion powder, dried chives, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared vegetables, and chopped parsley.
  6. Pour the ranch dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
  8. Before serving, give the salad one final gentle stir and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.