Creamy Tortellini Salad with Ranch Dressing

This creamy tortellini salad with ranch dressing is loaded with big bites of cheddar cheese, pieces of crumbled bacon, and cheese tortellini for a pasta salad recipe that’s anything but ordinary. A handful of ingredients and a quick 20 minutes and this cold tortellini salad is ready to go!

 

When it’s melt your face off hot the minute you step outside the door, everything feels harder.

Even cooking and eating.

I mean who wants to eat something hot when the air conditioning is no match for the scorching triple digit day outside?

Not me or my boys.

So on those days, I look for easy to make cold, refreshing dishes like this creamy tortellini salad with ranch dressing.

This cold tortellini salad loaded with cheddar and crispy bacon is a satisfying meal that doesn’t feel too heavy in the heat.

 

Why You’ll Love this Creamy Tortellini Salad

This cold tortellini salad is all about the ranch dressing.

Rather than use a bottle of ranch dressing, this ranch pasta salad uses a combination of sour cream, mayonnaise, and buttermilk seasoned with a tablespoon and a half of dressing mix.

It makes the dressing ultra rich and creamy while the tangy buttermilk thins it just enough to coat each and every nook and cranny of the tortellini and allow it to cling to the salty bacon and sharp cheddar.

It has body and lusciousness that store bought dressing simply doesn’t have.

 

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need a set of ingredients for the creamy tortellini salad itself and another for the dressing.

For the tortellini salad you’ll need:

• Cheese tortellini– A 20 ounce package of the kind of tortellini you find in the refrigerator case near the deli.
• Cheddar cheese– 8 ounces cut into cubes
• Bacon– Thick cut bacon cooked crisp and roughly chopped or crumbled

And for the homemade ranch dressing you’ll need:

• Sour cream– For the richest flavor and creamiest texture, use full fat sour cream.
• Mayonnaise– Real full fat mayo and not Miracle Whip or mayonnaise style dressing.
• Ranch seasoning– The kind in a packet.
• Buttermilk– Don’t have any? You can make your own by whisking white vinegar or lemon juice into a cup of milk.

 

How to Make

This creamy tortellini salad with ranch dressing is very easy to make!

Just cook the tortellini according to the package instructions.

Once it is done, strain the pasta and run it under cold water until it’s cool to the touch.

Set it aside while you make the dressing.

Whisk the sour cream, mayo, ranch seasoning, and buttermilk together in a small bowl until it is smooth.

Put the tortellini in a serving bowl.

Stir in the ranch dressing until the pasta’s evenly coated.

Toss in the bacon and cubed cheddar cheese until evenly combined.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until the pasta salad’s chilled through.

Enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

 

Serving Suggestions

This creamy tortellini salad with ranch is the perfect meal in and of itself especially on hot days!

It also makes a fantastic side dish at barbecues, potlucks, and picnics.

The cheddar bacon ranch tortellini pairs particularly well with meats like brisket and other side dish salads like this apple broccoli bacon salad.

Tips and Tricks

• No tortellini? Small, cheese ravioli or plain pasta both work in a pinch.
• If you use plain pasta, the dressing will seem a bit thinner. It will look thin initially regardless, but it thickens considerably when chilled.
• If you don’t want to take the time to whip up your own homemade ranch dressing, you can sub store bought. However, don’t go for the cheap stuff on the shelves in the condiment aisle. Go for a quality dressing, preferably one of the ones in the refrigerator of the produce aisle.
• This pasta salad is written to be served immediately, so not super cold but also not warm. However, if chilled pasta salads are more your thing, then cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
• To make ahead of time, make the tortellini salad as written with one exception. Don’t add the bacon in until just before serving. You want it to be crisp when eaten, not soggy.

 

Other Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipes

Creamy tortellini salad with ranch is a delicious spin on bacon cheddar ranch pasta salad you’ll love.

Make it and enjoy!

Looking for other tortellini pasta salad recipes?

Try these:

• Summertime Tortellini Salad With Vegetables
• Mediterranean Tortellini Salad
• Pepperoni & Basil Tortellini Salad

If you’ve tried this CREAMY TORTELLINI SALAD WITH RANCH DRESSING, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

recipe adapted from Will Cook For Smiles