Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad
This post has affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.
This easy recipe for Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad has to be one of the best macaroni salads I’ve made or eaten for that matter. Its creamy homemade dressing has just enough bacon to keep you coming back for more, chives fresh from the garden, and peas because well peas just belong in pasta salad. Put them together and you can see why this recipe is a winner.
Macaroni Salad
This recipe started as one of those “hmmm I want to eat this and I can’t find exactly what I want so I’ll make it up as I go along” type of deals. Yeah, I love it when it turns out well and I silently fist pump as everyone asks for more. And when I fail well we all fail sometimes right? But forget about failing with this recipe you can’t go wrong because it’s so easy. One tip though, makes it a day before you plan to serve it because it tastes better the second day.
Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni salad style is fine too if you have it
- 3 cups green peas frozen
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 TBSP milk
- 2 tsp dill weed
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic granules
- 1 tsp parsley dried
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt more to taste
- 1/2 cup bacon cooked and crumbled, divided
- 2 TBSP chives chopped
Instructions
- cook the macaroni according to package directions
- while it’s cooking thaw the peas by placing them in a colander and running them under hot water a few times–you don’t want to cook them only thaw them
- alternately you can toss them in the water for the last minute of cooking
- make the dressing, mix the next 10 ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake vigorously
- reserve 2 TBSP of crumbled bacon and mix the rest into the dressing, shake again to mix thoroughly
- once the macaroni is done cooking drain it and rinse it with cool water then pat dry as much as possible
- drain the peas if you haven’t already done so, pat them dry if they need it
- mix the macaroni with the peas
- pour 3/4 of the dressing over the salad and stir to coat
- cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours but 12 is better, when ready to serve, refrigerate the remaining dressing, and the bacon crumbles
- when ready to serve stir in the remaining dressing, taste and add more salt if needed
- top with the remaining bacon right before serving
Nutrition
When you make the dressing you can always start with less of any of the herbs and spices, especially the onion powder, make it suit you! I always encourage everyone to taste as they go along and go with your personal taste!
That looks so good that I can't make it. lol. I'd probably eat it all in one sitting!
it does make a LOT too : ) but I have boys who eat a LOT so it works for me–make it for a BBQ!
It looks so good! I love recipes like this. And yes, peas definitely go in pasta salad! Pinned
Perfect summer salad and I normally have all the ingredients on hand.
Wow if I made this for a party, it would be the first to disappear!! All those flavors! Looks so yummy!
This is my pea salad, with macaroni added! I’m totally adding macaroni the next time I make it! <3 P~
This looks super! I make a bacon ranch potato salad that’s always a hit so I know this would be too!
wow this looks amazing!! I like pasta salad but usually find it kind of boring But this sounds so delish with the chives and peas..and bacon! YUM! I need to try this next time I make pasta salad