This Bow Tie Pasta Salad is the perfect summer side dish, packed with crisp veggies, creamy ranch dressing, and plenty of cheddar cheese in every bite. Cool, colorful, and easy to make ahead, it’s a crowd-pleasing favorite.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Flavor: Creamy, tangy, and savory with crunchy fresh vegetables, salty black olives, and rich cheddar cheese in every chilled bite.
- Technique: Rinse the pasta in ice water after cooking to stop the cooking process and help the bow ties hold their shape.
- Make Ahead: Make this earlier in the day and stir in a little extra ranch before serving to freshen it up.
Total Time: 45 Mins (Just 15 mins prep!) Servings: 8 Cooking Method: Chilled
Ingredient Notes for Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Pasta: Bow tie pasta (AKA farfalle) holds the creamy ranch dressing well and stays hearty in a cold pasta salad. Cook it just to al dente so the texture stays tender without getting too soft. Replace it with fusilli, penne, or another sturdy pasta.
- Ranch Dressing: Bottled ranch dressing keeps this recipe quick and easy. Use a thick and creamy ranch for the best coating. Stir a spoonful of mayo into the dressing to make it a little richer.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese adds flavor to this pasta salad. I usually use sharp cheddar, but a mild cheddar, Colby Jack, or even a Mexican cheese blend works well.
- Red Onion: To cut the sharpness of the onion, rinse under cold water, and pat dry.
- Celery: Dice the celery small, so it blends smoothly into the salad, and you get celery in every bite.
- Tomatoes: Use firm tomatoes, and remove some of the seeds if they are too juicy. Or replace with halved grape or cherry tomatoes.
- Black Olives: Optional, but they add a salty, briny flavor to the finished salad.
Favorite Pasta Salad Variations
- Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad: Add cooked crumbled bacon for smoky crunch.
- Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad: Stir in diced chicken to turn it into a light main dish.
- Veggie Pasta Salad: Add cucumber, bell peppers, peas, fresh basil, or chopped broccoli.
- Spicy Ranch Pasta Salad: Use spicy ranch, stir a splash of hot sauce into the dressing, or add diced jalapeños to the salad.
How To Make Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Cook, drain, and “shock” the pasta (see the TIPS section below).
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Refrigerate and stir before serving (full recipe below).
Storing Pasta Salad
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving and add a little extra ranch dressing if the pasta has absorbed too much dressing.
- To make ahead, prep, cook, and chill the pasta. Then dice the vegetables, and store them separately. Toss everything together with ranch 30 to 60 minutes before serving.
- For parties, serve from a chilled bowl or set the bowl over ice.
Easy Pasta Salads for Potlucks
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Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Creamy bow tie pasta salad is a quick chilled side dish made with ranch dressing, cheddar cheese, crisp celery, tomatoes, onion, and olives.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces bow tie pasta
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ red onion diced
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ⅓ cup sliced black olives
Instructions
- Cook the pasta 'al dente' according to package directions. Drain and cool completely.
- Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix until combined.
- Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes, and stir before serving.
Notes
- Cook pasta to al dente, drain, then “shock” the pasta by placing in a large bowl of ice water. This helps keep the pasta firm.
- Cover leftovers and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Before serving, stir and add a bit of ranch dressing to refresh the flavors.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 455mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 280IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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