Description

A creamy, cheap, and customizable pasta salad perfect for tailgating, meal prep, or feeding a crowd on a budget. It combines elbow macaroni, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and a homemade ranch-mayo dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz elbow macaroni
8 slices thick-cut bacon
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 packet (1 oz) dry ranch dressing mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 stalk celery, diced
2 tbsp cooking oil (or bacon grease)
2 tbsp milk or water (optional, for dressing consistency)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside in a large bowl.
Place bacon slices in a cold skillet and turn heat to medium-high. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until dark golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease if desired.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, dry ranch dressing mix, and milk or water until smooth and creamy.
Crumble the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces. Chop green onions and dice celery.
Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, green onions, and celery to the large mixing bowl with the pasta.
Pour the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly until everything is coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, vinegar, or more ranch mix if needed.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Notes

Do not skip rinsing the pasta with cold water to prevent it from becoming gummy. Cook bacon until very crisp as it will soften slightly when mixed. The salad tastes better after chilling for a few hours or overnight. It does not freeze well due to the mayonnaise and dairy content.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 450
Sugar: 3
Sodium: 800
Fat: 24
Saturated Fat: 8
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 2
Protein: 12

Keywords: pasta salad, bacon ranch, budget meal, tailgate food, meal prep, cheap dinner, creamy pasta salad, make-ahead recipe