I love super simple recipes.  This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is full of flavor and takes no time at all to throw together.  It’s literally pasta, shredded carrot, frozen peas, bacon pieces, parmesan cheese and ranch dressing.  It’s a favorite of ours for barbeques and always disappears quickly! 

You can choose your favorite type of pasta for this salad.  I love to use the Trio Italiano because there are Shells, Rotini and Penne in there and it just looks pretty.  However, Farfalle pasta, (bow-tie), looks beautiful too!  Additionally if you want to go the extra mile, cook your own bacon and use that instead.  However, the real bacon pieces work just beautifully too.  

Ingredients:

• 16oz pasta, cooked according to directions, drained and rinsed under cold water
• 4oz shredded carrot (you can find it already shredded in the produce dept)
• 1-1/2 cups frozen peas (rinsed under cold water until mostly defrosted and drained)
• 3oz pkg of real bacon pieces (not the crunchy bacon bits, but the pieces that can be found next to them in a bag)
• 5oz shredded Parmesan cheese
• 16oz bottle of your favorite ranch dressing
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: 

1. Toss everything in a large bowl reserving just a spoonful of the bacon pieces and Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over the top for garnish.  Only use as much dressing as you need to keep the salad moist.   
2. Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours to let the flavors meld before serving.
3. I usually toss with a little extra dressing before serving and garnish with the reserved bacon and Parm.

*Photo updated 4/27/19