Best 5 Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a flavor-packed journey with our tantalizing Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad. This delectable dish combines the perfect balance of spicy and creamy, making it an irresistible treat for your taste buds. Dive into a symphony of flavors as the zesty kick of jalapenos mingles with the rich creaminess of ranch dressing, creating an explosion of taste in every bite. Accompanied by a medley of colorful vegetables, succulent chicken, and tender pasta, this salad is a feast for the eyes and the palate. Discover the art of culinary fusion as we guide you through this easy-to-follow recipe, ensuring a delightful culinary experience. In addition to the classic Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad, we offer variations that cater to diverse preferences. For those seeking a vegetarian delight, our recipe features a protein-packed combination of chickpeas and black beans, offering a satisfying meatless option. Craving a touch of smokiness? Our Chipotle Ranch Pasta Salad infuses a smoky chipotle flavor into the creamy ranch dressing, adding an extra layer of complexity. And for those who desire a spicy kick, our Spicy Ranch Pasta Salad dials up the heat with a generous helping of cayenne pepper, creating a fiery sensation that will leave your taste buds tingling. No matter your preference, our collection of Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad recipes guarantees a culinary adventure that will tantalize your senses and leave you craving more.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

JALAPENO POPPER PASTA SALAD



Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad image

Provided by Nichole

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 Cup Ranch Dressing, (Homemade or Store Bought)
2 Medium Jalapeños, (Stems and seeds removed)
2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
1 Clove Garlic
1 Pound Rotini Pasta
1/2 Cup Chopped Jalapenos
1/2 Cup Cubed or Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Cup Cubed or Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
8-10 Slices Bacon, (Cooked and Crumbled)
1 Cup Garlic Croutons, (Crushed)

Steps:

  • Combine the ranch dressing, jalapenos, lime juice, and garlic in a high powered blender or food processor. Pulse until completely smooth.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to package directions. Drain pasta, run under cold water until completely cool, set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the pasta and jalapeno ranch. Add the jalapenos, cheddar, pepper jack, and bacon, stir well to combine.
  • Stir in half of the crushed croutons. Top the pasta salad with remaining croutons before serving. Chill until ready to serve.

BACON RANCH PASTA SALAD



Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad image

This is a very flavorful pasta salad. The crisp cooked bacon really adds a nice flavor. I get requests for this pasta salad for every get together and cook out.

Provided by Wilemon

Categories     Salad     100+ Pasta Salad Recipes     Rotini Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 1h25m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (12 ounce) package uncooked tri-color rotini pasta
10 slices bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons dry ranch salad dressing mix
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon garlic pepper
½ cup milk, or as needed
1 large tomato, chopped
1 (4.25 ounce) can sliced black olives
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
  • Place bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook until evenly brown. Drain and chop.
  • In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, ranch dressing mix, garlic powder, and garlic pepper. Stir in milk until smooth. Place rotini, bacon, tomato, black olives and cheese in bowl and toss to coat with dressing. Cover and chill at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Toss with additional milk if the salad seems a little dry.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 335.7 calories, Carbohydrate 14.9 g, Cholesterol 31.3 mg, Fat 26.8 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 9.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 691.1 mg, Sugar 1.6 g

CREAMY SOUTHWEST RANCH PASTA SALAD RECIPE



Creamy Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe image

This recipe for refreshing and delicious make ahead Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad has lots of Southwest flair like black beans, corn, and bold spices.

Provided by Sommer Collier

Categories     Appetizer     Salad     Side Dish

Time 23m

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound small pasta (we used fusilli)
15 ounce black beans (drained)
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 cup frozen corn (thawed)
1 red bell pepper (seeded and chopped)
½ cup chopped red onion
½ cup chopped cilantro
3 ounce sliced black olives (drained)
1 jalapeno (seeded and diced (optional))
1 cup thick creamy ranch dressing
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Place a large pot of salted water over high heat. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain and set aside to cool.
  • Meanwhile chop all necessary ingredients.
  • Set out a large salad bowl. Add in the cooked pasta, black beans, tomatoes, corn, chopped bell pepper, onion, cilantro, olives, and jalapeno.
  • In a separate bowl (or measuring pitcher) combine the ranch dressing, lime juice, chili powder, and cumin. Mix well. Then taste, and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Mix the dressing into the pasta salad and gently stir until well coated.
  • Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. (Allowing the pasta salad ingredients to rest with the dressing longer creates a better overall flavor.)

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 322 kcal, Carbohydrate 45 g, Protein 9 g, Fat 12 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 7 mg, Sodium 339 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 3 g

JALAPENO RANCH DRESSING



Jalapeno Ranch Dressing image

A spicy twist on traditional ranch dressing. I use this on taco salads and as a dipping sauce for taquitos, mini-tacos, jalapeno poppers, etc. It's good with or without the avocado! Add more peppers to taste. I make a batch with habaneros for my father-in-law, too!

Provided by Nicole

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Salad Dressing Recipes     Ranch Dressing Recipes

Time 2h15m

Yield 32

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 cups ranch salad dressing (such as Hidden Valley® Original Ranch®)
1 tablespoon cilantro leaves, minced
¼ cup pickled jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and chopped

Steps:

  • Blend ranch dressing, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, tomato, and avocado in a blender until smooth. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 122.1 calories, Carbohydrate 1.8 g, Cholesterol 6.1 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 0.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 233.8 mg, Sugar 1.1 g

CHOPPED SALAD WITH JALAPEñO-RANCH DRESSING



Chopped Salad With Jalapeño-Ranch Dressing image

This chopped salad is fresh, festive and excessive in a celebratory way. While most salads opt for the lightest layer of dressing to optimize the produce's flavors, this one calls for the dressing to generously coat the crisp ingredients. Inspired by Caesar salad, ranch dressing and the dinner-worthy salads popularized at chain restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen, this salad is punchy and satisfying, thanks to rich ingredients, like avocado, Cotija and a mayonnaise-thickened dressing, plus those with bite, like radishes, corn kernels and tortilla chips. Pair the salad with grilled tofu, chicken, shrimp or burgers - or nothing at all. This salad eschews subtlety, and hits all the right notes.

Provided by Alexa Weibel

Categories     salads and dressings

Time 20m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 large scallions, trimmed and finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeño with its seeds (or to taste)
1 lime, zested
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
3 romaine lettuce hearts (about 1 pound), trimmed and chopped into bite-size pieces
3 fresh ears of corn, shucked, kernels removed from cobs
8 radishes, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced into half-moons
2 large, ripe avocados, pitted and diced
5 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced at an angle
1/2 cup crumbled Cotija (or grated Parmesan)
1 cup chopped cilantro, leaves and tender stems
2 cups crumbled lime tortilla chips (optional)

Steps:

  • Prepare the dressing: In a large measuring cup, whisk all the dressing ingredients together to combine. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. (Makes 1 ¼ cups. It will taste quite salty at this point, and that is intentional. You want it to hold up when tossed with a big pile of vegetables.)
  • In a large shallow bowl or platter, toss the romaine with half of the following ingredients: corn, radishes, avocado, sliced scallions, Cotija and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add ½ cup dressing and toss to coat. Season again with salt and pepper.
  • Top with the remaining corn, radishes, avocado, scallions, Cotija and cilantro, scattering the garnishes on top or arranging them in stripes or piles. Sprinkle some crumbled tortilla chips on top, if using. Drizzle the salad with an additional 1/4 cup dressing, and serve immediately, serving any remaining dressing and additional tortilla chips alongside.

Tips:

  • Choose the right pasta: Short pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or macaroni work best for this salad. They hold the dressing well and are easy to eat.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking it until it is just tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and won't hold its shape well in the salad.
  • Use a good quality ranch dressing: Store-bought or homemade, make sure the dressing is flavorful and creamy. You can also add your own seasonings or herbs to taste.
  • Don't skimp on the vegetables: The vegetables add color, crunch, and flavor to the salad. Be sure to use fresh, crisp vegetables and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
  • Add some protein: Cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu are all great additions to this salad. They add protein and make the salad more filling.
  • Chill the salad before serving: This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Jalapeno ranch pasta salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use up leftover pasta and vegetables, and it can be made ahead of time, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights. With its creamy ranch dressing, spicy jalapenos, and crunchy vegetables, this salad is sure to please everyone at your table.

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