Description
This Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect blend of creamy, tangy ranch dressing, crisp veggies, savory ham, and delightful rotini pasta. It’s an irresistible side dish ideal for picnics, potlucks, and summer gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 Pound Rotini Pasta
- 1 Cup Ranch Dressing (Honestly, use your favorite brand. My personal pick? Hidden Valley all the way)
- Mayonnaise (I’m a Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise fan—it adds just the right creamy tang.
- Green Bell Pepper: Adds a delightful crunch that’s essential.
- Ham: (Go for Boar’s Head Boneless Ham Steaks, diced into small cubes, about 8 oz, or roughly 2 cups. Fresh ham works great too!)
- ½ Cup Frozen Peas
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cook Your Pasta: Bring salted water to a boil (use at least 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt per pound of pasta). Cook the rotini just until it’s al dente, then drain and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add Veggies and Ham: Toss in diced green pepper, ham, and frozen peas. Stir to combine everything evenly.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooled pasta to the mixture. Give everything another good stir.
- Chill Out: Cover your bowl and pop it into the fridge until it’s thoroughly chilled.
- Serve Cold: The pasta salad is best served cold, making it perfect for hot summer days.
Notes
- Salt your pasta water generously—it truly makes a difference.
- Cook pasta just beyond al dente to avoid it becoming tough when chilled.
- Don’t chill the pasta separately—let it mingle with the dressing while still slightly warm to really soak up the flavors.
- Prep Time: 20
- Chilling Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Bake / Cold Prep
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 547kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 128mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 37mg