Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad

Do you love the creamy pasta salad from Ruby Tuesday? Now you can make it at home! This recipe combines rotini pasta, diced ham, frozen peas, and a tangy ranch dressing. It’s a hit with families and takes just 30 minutes to prepare.

This salad is perfect for any event. You can make it ahead and chill it for an hour, or serve it fresh. It stays good in the fridge for up to 5 days. Enjoy the taste of Ruby Tuesday in your kitchen!

Recreating Ruby Tuesday’s Famous Pasta Salad at Home

Ingredients and Substitutions

Making Ruby Tuesday’s pasta salad at home is simple. You’ll need rotini pasta, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, green bell pepper, diced ham, and frozen peas. These ingredients mix to create the salad’s unique taste.

Can’t find all the exact ingredients? No problem. Use other short pasta like penne or fusilli instead. Swap diced ham for cooked chicken or turkey. If ranch dressing is hard to find, mix mayonnaise, milk, and dry ranch seasoning.

With a bit of creativity, you can make a homemade pasta salad just as tasty. The secret is balancing creamy dressing, crunchy veggies, and savory meat or protein.

Ruby Tuesday pasta salad ingredients

Now that you have your ingredients, it’s time to make the salad. Follow the next section to learn how to mix everything for a dish everyone will love.

Preparing the Perfect Pasta Salad

Making the ultimate pasta salad needs focus and a few steps. Cook the rotini pasta until it’s just past al dente. Then, rinse it with cold water to stop cooking. This keeps the pasta firm and prevents it from sticking together.

After cooking and cooling the pasta, it’s time to mix it. Start by adding the cooled pasta to the mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch dressing mix. This creamy dressing coats the pasta evenly, adding flavor.

  1. Cook the rotini pasta until just past al dente, then rinse with cold water and let cool completely.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with the mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch dressing mix.
  3. Gently fold in the diced ham, frozen peas, and any other desired ingredients until everything is well incorporated.
  4. Season the pasta salad with salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings to taste.
  5. Chill the how-to-make pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

By following these steps, you’ll make a pasta salad that’s as good as Ruby Tuesday’s. Focus on the pasta salad preparation tips and prepping pasta for salad. This ensures a dish that’s both textured and flavorful.

Pasta salad preparation

“The secret to a great pasta salad is in the preparation. Take the time to cook the pasta properly and let the flavors meld together for best results.”

– Melanie Cagle, Recipe Author

Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad: Delicious Homemade Recipe

Do you love the creamy pasta salad from Ruby Tuesday? You can make it at home with this easy recipe. Follow these steps to make a version that’s just as good.

The secret to this Ruby Tuesday pasta salad recipe is the right ingredients and methods. First, cook the rotini pasta as the package says. Then, rinse it with cold water until it’s cool. This stops it from cooking more and makes it better.

Next, mix the dressing. Use mayonnaise, buttermilk, dried ranch seasoning, garlic salt, and black pepper. Add the cooled pasta, diced ham, frozen peas, and any other mix-ins like cheese or veggies.

For the best taste, chill the copycat Ruby Tuesday pasta salad for 4 hours before eating. This lets the flavors mix well and the pasta soak up the dressing. When you serve it, you’ll have a tasty pasta salad perfect for any occasion.

Craving the original or a tasty homemade pasta salad? This Ruby Tuesday pasta salad recipe is perfect. Try it and enjoy your favorite restaurant dish at home.

Customizing Your Homemade Pasta Salad

Start with the classic Ruby Tuesday pasta salad recipe. But, making it at home lets you add your own twist. Try out pasta salad variations, adding ingredients to pasta salad, and customizing pasta salad to make it yours.

Variations and Add-ins

Begin by trying different pasta types. Mix tri-color rotini, penne, or bowtie pasta for a fun look and feel. Add fresh veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, diced red onion, or cherry tomatoes for extra nutrition and crunch.

For more protein, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or crumbled feta or Parmesan cheese. Sunflower seeds or sliced black olives can add a tasty twist.

Want a lighter version? Use a zesty vinaigrette instead of creamy dressing. Mix olive oil, white wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard. A squeeze of lemon juice can also enhance the taste.

“The beauty of homemade pasta salad is that you can tailor it to your taste buds. Get creative and have fun with it!”

Remember, making your pasta salad is all about experimenting. Find the perfect mix of flavors and textures you love. Don’t be shy to try new things and enjoy the process!

Tips for the Best Pasta Salad

Making the perfect pasta salad is all about the little details. From salting the cooking water to chilling the salad, these tips for making pasta salad will make your Ruby Tuesday copycat delicious every time.

  1. Salt the pasta cooking water generously. This helps infuse the noodles with flavor from the start.
  2. Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to stop the cooking and prevent it from getting sticky or mushy.
  3. Let the pasta salad chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This allows the secrets to perfect pasta salad – the flavors to fully meld together.
  4. Don’t skip the chilling step – it prevents the salad from tasting overly mayonnaisey.

By following these simple tips for avoiding common pasta salad mistakes, you’ll make a copycat Ruby Tuesday pasta salad that’s full of flavor and perfect texture. Get ready to impress your guests and taste buds with this homemade version!

“The key to a great pasta salad is all in the details – from properly cooking the noodles to letting the flavors meld together in the fridge.”

Serving Suggestions and Pairings

The homemade Ruby Tuesday pasta salad is great as a main dish or side. To make it the highlight of your meal, pair it with other dishes and drinks. What to serve with pasta salad or side dishes for pasta salad can make your meal better.

For a full meal, try grilling chicken or salmon. These pair well with the pasta salad’s tangy taste. Add a fresh green salad, garlic bread, or grilled peaches for sweetness.

A crisp white wine or fruity sangria goes well with the pasta salad. These drinks balance its flavors.

  • Grilled chicken
  • Grilled salmon
  • Fresh green salad
  • Garlic bread
  • Grilled peaches
  • White wine
  • Sangria

Choosing the right what to serve with pasta salad makes a great meal. It lets the homemade Ruby Tuesday pasta salad shine.

The Convenience of a Homemade Copycat Recipe

Making Ruby Tuesday’s pasta salad at home is super convenient. You get to enjoy the same tasty flavors without leaving your kitchen. Plus, you can change the recipe to fit your taste, saving money and time.

One great thing about homemade pasta salad is you can make it ahead of time. Just chill it for 2 hours to let the flavors mix well. This way, you can have it ready for any event or dinner.

The recipe is also easy to follow. It needs simple stuff like rotini pasta, peas, ham, and ranch dressing. By following it, you can make a dish that tastes like it’s from the restaurant. And, you can add your own special touches to make it yours.

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Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad

Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad


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  • Author: Brittany Harris
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 1x

Description

 

Enjoy the creamy, savory goodness of Ruby Tuesday’s signature pasta salad right at home with this easy copycat recipe! With tender rotini, diced ham, green peas, and a rich ranch-flavored dressing, it’s perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or as a comforting make-ahead dish.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb box rotini pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 of a 1 oz package dry ranch dressing mix
  • 8 oz diced ham
  • 1 cup frozen green peas
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Dressing:

  • In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch dressing mix. Stir until smooth and well combined.

2️⃣ Add the Ham & Peas:

  • Mix in the diced ham. Then, fold in the frozen green peas, stirring gently to distribute evenly.

3️⃣ Mix in the Pasta:

  • Gradually add the cooked rotini pasta to the bowl, stirring as you go to coat every piece in the creamy dressing.

4️⃣ Season to Taste:

  • Taste the salad and season with salt and pepper as needed.

5️⃣ Chill Before Serving:

  • Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.

6️⃣ Serve and enjoy this nostalgic, flavorful dish!

Notes

  • For a fun twist, add shredded cheddar cheese or crispy bacon bits.
  • Use Greek yogurt in place of some mayonnaise for a lighter version.
  • Make it vegetarian by skipping the ham and adding extra veggies like diced bell peppers or shredded carrots.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Chilling Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes

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