Ranch Picnic Pasta Salad
I love the strong flavor of the ranch and red vinegar in this. Yes, this is much like the Italian-style pasta salad you can get at the deli, but oh, so much better. I prefer the lighter angel hair pasta, but you might want to color it up with tricolored or shells or whatever.
I love the strong flavor of the ranch and red vinegar in this. Yes, this is much like the Italian-style pasta salad you can get at the deli, but oh, so much better. I prefer the lighter angel hair pasta, but you might want to color it up with tricolored or shells or whatever.
- 1 package angel hair pasta (break in half) or
- 1 package tri-color spiral pasta
- 4 firm ripe seeded diced tomatoes
- 1 can sliced black olives drained
- 2 medium cucumbers peeled pulp removed and diced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 small green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper seeded and diced
- 3 packages hidden valley ranch dressing mix
- 1 package italian salad dressing mix (prepared as directed o
- 0.5 cup olive oil
- 0.333333333333333 cup red wine vinegar
- Carbohydrate 4.15814492570557 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 9.76451771301254 g
- Fiber 0.956339512853476 g
- Protein 0.660514761063792 g
- Saturated Fat 1.35454897098002 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (96g)
- Sodium 113.114566369275 mg
- Sugar 3.20180541285209 g
- Trans Fat 0.330527132709809 g
- Calories 103 calories
Step-by-step
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Prepare Italian dressing mix according to directions (but using about 1/2 the oil called for).
- Mix Ranch dressing with vinegar and oil.
- Drain pasta well and rinse with cold water, drain well again.
- Place all ingredients into large bowl and toss well. best to let sit overnight in refridgerator to let tastes marinate well
- Toss before serving.
As I was growing up, my mom would always make this incredible pasta salad for our family picnics. It was always a crowd-pleaser, and I would always look forward to it. The combination of flavors is simply irresistible, with the tangy ranch dressing, the sweet tomatoes, and the crisp cucumbers and bell peppers. It's the perfect dish to bring to any summer gathering, and it's always a hit.
The best part about this pasta salad is that it's so easy to make. Simply cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain it and rinse it with cold water. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and olives. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, vinegar, and oil. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Before serving, toss the pasta salad again to make sure it's evenly coated with the dressing.
