This is good. No, scratch that. This stuff is the most AMAZING pasta salad ever!!!
Great ready for the best pasta salad recipe!
Have you been on the search, for the creamiest, most flavorful pasta salad? I know I have….for quite some time now. Well, seeing as I’m a bit obsessed with ranch flavored recipes, I just HAD to put a ranch spin on a pasta salad.
Here is my rendition of the best, most creamy pasta salad out there. Meet my Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad. Don’t you just want to dive in with a spoon right now?! I sure did. Over, and over and over again 🙂
Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
- Prepare pasta according to package. While waiting for the pasta to boil, gather your carrots, celery, red onion, frozen peas, ham and cheddar cheese. Set aside
- To make the dressing, whisk together ranch mix, mayo and milk. Mix until all lumps are gone.
- Once pasta is done, drain and let cool for a couple minutes. Once cooled, mix in carrots, celery, red onion, frozen peas, ham and cheddar cheese.
- Next pour dressing over the pasta salad, and stir gently until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
- Right before serving, give your Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad a couple more stirs to mix in any of the dressing that had settled at the bottom.
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Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni pasta
- 1 cup medium diced or shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
- ¼ red onion diced
- 2/3 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup ham cubed
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed
- 1 packets ranch seasoning mix
- 1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package. While waiting for the pasta to boil, gather your carrots, celery, red onion, frozen peas, ham and cheddar cheese. Set aside
- To make the dressing, whisk together ranch mix, mayo and milk. Mix until all lumps are gone.
- Once pasta is done, drain and let cool for a couple minutes. Once cooled, mix in carrots, celery, red onion, frozen peas, ham and cheddar cheese.
- Next pour dressing over the pasta salad, and stir gently until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
- Right before serving, give your Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad a couple more stirs to mix in any of the dressing that had settled at the bottom.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Post updated September 2020
Laurabuterbaugh says
Hey- looks like this will be a great combo to your crockpot BBQ chicken!! How do keep coming up with these yummy dishes? Wow!
Corey says
🙂 Thanks Laura. I agree, but I think anything goes well with pasta salad…I’m addicted to the stuff! haha
Cas Silva says
Can I make the night before?
Corey says
Yes!
Melanie C. says
I just made this and it is amazing! I love all your recipes, especially the ranch ones. Thanks for posting such great recipes!
Corey says
Awesome Melanie! Thank you for stopping by to let me know 🙂
Rose says
Can I substitute shrimp for the ham instead? Would it be just as good?
Corey says
Sounds interesting! I don’t think I have ever had ranch flavored shrimp dishes before. 🙂 If you give it a try, please let us know how it tasted!
Heather says
Just made the pasta salad…it’s delish..added a few chopped dill pickles . Yummy!
Ashley says
Anyone tried this with greek yogurt instead of the mayo?
Car says
Delicious! I made this to take for lunches to work for the week. It made a TON. Haha.
Here’s what mine turned out like: http://s29.postimg.org/4hkwneh2v/012_A051_BBB600000_EF500002_attachment_1_PART951411.jpg
It’s definitely one of my favorites. Thanks a lot!
Veronica says
Why do the peas have to be frozen?
Corey says
I just like the taste of frozen peas. You can use canned if you would like 🙂
Melissa A McConnell says
Canned are a mushy consistency and frozen peas hold up better in salads.
Michele says
What kind of ham do you use without baking a whole ham and using leftovers? Thanks.
Carrie says
I just made this for a pot luck and it made a huge bowl!! The dressing on it is amazing, I substituted chopped pepperoni for the ham, added more cheese, omitted the celery and used shredded carrots and fusilli pasta (because it’s prettier). Rave reviews for the dressing
Corey says
Thanks Carrie! I love the idea of using pepperoni!!
ANTHONY JIMENEZ says
I don’t have any ranch seasoning but I have ranch dressing. Could i use the dressing instead of the seasoning?
Corey says
I have only made this with the seasoning Anthony. Sorry. Can anyone else help Anthony out?
Ella Cummings says
I’ve used ranch dressing most of the time. I like the bottled ranch in the refrigerator section. Works lovely
Ella Cummings says
I make something similar but instead of ham I use andouille sausage chopped up. Adds a little spice and everyone loves it
Corey says
Sounds yummy!
Christina says
Yay! This was yummy and so easy. Thanks for sharing Corey.
I made a batch and grilled up some chicken and tossed that in. I took a big bowl to work to share and everyone really liked it. Love all the veggies for crunch and the ranch flavor! I used bowties cause that’s what I had and I love the shape. Once the noodles soaked up a bit of the sauce, there was the perfect amount left. Love chilled main dishes for summer!
Hope you’re having an awesome day.
Corey says
I love the idea of adding chicken! YUM!!
Nancy Pint says
Does it matter if you use the salad dressing & seasoning mix or the the ranch for dips seasoning?
Corey says
I have honestly used both Nancy and have not noticed a difference 🙂
Cindi hartline says
This is a really good recipe, but understand it makes ALOT! My husband just loves it.
Mary says
How many ounces are in your seasoning packet that you use?
Rojeanna says
I wondered the same thing because theres a one ounce or three ounce pkg..
Sue Eager says
This sounds similar to a salad in the deli at one of my favorite stores. They add hard-boiled eggs and use rigatoni noodles. I think this is the closest I have found to that recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Monique says
This looks delicious and I will definitely be trying it! I love recipes like this for easy summer meals. One word of caution though. My frozen peas warn that they should be cooked in order to kill bacteria…so I think I would run mine though some boiling water, just to be safe.
Jen Cuilan says
I put my frozen peas at the bottom of my strainer when I drained the pasta and ran cold water over them! Not mushy and fabulous recipe! Thank you!
Vanessa says
Have made this twice now for summer pool parties…I have some picky party goers but everyone loves this! Thanks for an easy and tasty pasta salad!
Melissa says
Wanted to make this for our camping trip, wondering if this stays well in the fridge for a few days??
Corey says
Yes! It sure will 🙂
Carla Fichtner says
Have you ever made this using the buttermilk ranch seasoning mix?
Lori Bulis says
This is wonderful. I just tweeted with shells and green onions. Off to my church picnic. I’m sure it’s going to be a big hit!
Lori Bulis says
I really love this! But I guess I was a little confused. It says to cool the pasta for a couple of minutes, so I assumed that that’s what makes it creamy with the pasta still hot. But it just melted the mayo sauce. So I ended up adding another 2-3 cups mayo. My bad! Thank you for sharing. My mom was always the macaroni salad person in my family but she’s gone now.
Now that I think of it, it could also be do to me using shells
Melissa A McConnell says
Any time you add mayo to a dish it’s best if it’s cooled completely since warm mayo isn’t safe.
Marsha Paul says
Great receipe however next time I’m going to add sliced black olive and diced red bell pepper.
Yes I did say next time!
Melissa Zelaitis says
I have been making this exactly as written for years now and had to come rate it. Everyone, even kiddos loves this salad. Thank you for an outstanding recipe. I have a batch coming together in the fridge now 🙂
Corey says
Thank you for the kind comment Melissa. I saw your comment about the rating and fixed it 🙂 I am so happy you love the recipe! It’s one of our favorites too!
Lisa says
I made this for my husband, who likes this salad, but I was using box version. This was soo easy, and looks and tastes delicious. Thank you.
Patty Love says
This sounds amazing. I having difficulty chewing raw veggies. Could I cook the Chunks of carrots and broccoli just a little bit or do you think they would be to mushy. Thank you.
Corey says
Yes, I think that would work out just fine Patty.
Anthony says
I made this as a side for Easter dinner. Did not put the ham in since we are serving ham as the main course, but I will certainly be dicing up leftover ham and adding it to the leftover salad to enjoy again tomorrow!
Maria says
What would you suggest I substitute the frozen Peas with as some of the kids don’t like them. Thank you!
Corey says
You can just leave them out.