Savory pasta salad with smoky bacon, ranch, Alfredo, fresh vegetables, and cheese. Easy, crowd-pleasing dish.
# What you need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
→ Meats
02 - 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels
→ Cheeses
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Dressings & Sauces
09 - 3/4 cup prepared Alfredo sauce
10 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing
→ Herbs & Seasonings
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente per package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking.
02 - Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cooled.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, sweet corn, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together Alfredo sauce and ranch dressing until smooth.
05 - Pour the prepared sauce over the salad ingredients and toss gently until evenly coated.
06 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir in chopped parsley.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld.
08 - Toss again before serving. Garnish with extra parsley or Parmesan if desired.
