Jens Ranch Pasta Salad Recipes

RANCH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package instructions. Remember to salt the pasta water so the noodles have some flavor. I use about 1 teaspoon salt. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water so pasta can cool.
• In a mixing bowl combine the cooled pasta, broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Stir. Add ranch and stir again to coat the noodles and veggies in the ranch.
• Serve right away or let it refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. Pasta salad tends to dry out in the fridge so don't leave it in there too long before serving. If needed, add some additional dressing and give it a good stir to moisten it back up.
• ** If you are making the homemade ranch dressing, I would suggest making it before you make the salad so it has plenty of time to refrigerate and get cold. Combine all the ranch dressing ingredients into a small bowl and stir with a wire whisk. It makes just enough for the salad. For leftovers, I just use store-bought ranch dressing to moisten it back up.

CREAMY RANCH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, then rinse it under cold water to cool completely; drain it well again.
• Meanwhile, reserve 2 tablespoons of the carrot for garnish. Put the remaining carrot in a large bowl and whisk in the mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, celery leaves, lemon juice, Worcestershire, onion powder, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until combined. The dressing can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.
• Add the pasta to the bowl with the dressing and toss to combine. To serve, top it with the Parmesan, reserved carrots and additional chives and season with pepper.

RANCH PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Prepare pasta noodles al dente according to package directions.
• 2. Strain and cool.
• 3. In a separate bowl, mix the ranch dressing envelope according to the package directions adding mayo & buttermilk.
• 4. I thin it out with a couple additional tablespoons of buttermilk or milk if needed.
• 5. Add cubed cheese, cucumber, tomato halves, and optional ham to the pasta.
• 6. Add dressing.
• 7. Combine well.
• 8. Refrigerate for an hour or more. If the noodles soak up most of the dressing, you may add a bit of milk to loosen it up or just a squirt or two of bottled dressing.