Amy’s Hippy Pasta Salad (Easy Healthy Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe)

Made with protein pasta, a Greek yogurt ranch dressing, veggies, bacon, and cheese, this pasta salad is perfect for cookouts, grad parties, family gatherings, potlucks, holidays, meal prep, or easy lunches.

This is one I’ve been making and taking to family get-togethers for years. It’s quick, easy, always a crowd favorite (even with one of my best friends who doesn’t like peas!), and incredibly customizable depending on what you have on hand.

Loaded with pasta, crunchy veggies, bacon, cheese, and a creamy ranch-style dressing with a healthier twist, this pasta salad is perfect for cookouts, grad parties, family gatherings, potlucks, holidays, meal prep, or easy lunches all week long. It makes great leftovers, too!

Toss in chopped broccoli, cucumbers, corn, diced pepperoni, salami, or whatever sounds good. It’s one of those “clean out the fridge” recipes that somehow always works, and makes for great leftovers, too.

And if you’re feeding a crowd, simply double the ingredients below—it disappears fast.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups dried pasta of choice, preferably shells or spirals (I use BRAMI’s - Amazon.com: Brami: Protein Pasta)

• 1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp avocado mayo

• 1 tbsp sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)

• 3 tbsp Ranch seasoning (or more if desired)

• 1 tbsp Hippy All-Purpose Seasoning

• 1 tsp pepper

• 1 cup cooked peas

• ½ cup shredded or matchstick carrots

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ cup diced purple onion

• 1 cup bacon, bits or chopped

• ½ cup shredded cheese, cheddar or Colby jack

Look at that creamy and crunchy goodness!

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.

2. While the pasta cooks, in a small bowl mix together the Greek yogurt, mayo, seasonings and bacon bits. Optional: add sour cream and/or a splash of half & half for extra creaminess.

3. Add cooled pasta back into a large bowl or pot. Stir in the peas, carrots, tomatoes, onion, and shredded cheese.

4. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated and combined.

5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld together.

Tips & Variations

• Add chopped broccoli, cucumbers, corn, pepperoni, or salami

• Want extra crunch? Add sunflower seeds or diced celery

• Make it higher protein with protein pasta and extra Greek yogurt

• Best served cold after chilling for a few hours