I’m thrilled to have Cabot Cooperative as the sponsor for this delicious, summery Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad recipe. All recipes, photos, and opinions remain my own.
Few dishes say summer like a bright, crunchy pasta salad. I enjoy many versions, but when I make my own I follow a few firm rules to keep the texture crisp and the flavors vivid.
My essentials for a great pasta salad:
- Cook the pasta to al dente or slightly under — it will soften a bit more as it chills and absorbs dressing.
- Drain and then rinse the pasta well with cold water to remove excess starch and stop the cooking. This prevents clumping and keeps individual pieces separate.
- Include plenty of texture and contrasting flavors. Pasta benefits from crunchy vegetables, crisp bacon, flavorful cheese, and fresh herbs to create balanced bites.
- Don’t overdress initially. Because the pasta will absorb dressing, reserve a bit to add back in before serving if needed.
- Let the pasta salad rest in the refrigerator at least an hour so the dressing can meld with the pasta and other ingredients.
- Cut vegetables to match the pasta size so every forkful can contain a bit of everything.
For the dressing I prefer homemade buttermilk ranch, which brings a creamy tang that complements the smoky bacon and sharp cheeses. If you don’t make your own, choose a high-quality store-bought ranch you enjoy.
I’m a little picky about cheese — I like bold, everyday Cheddar and pepper jack for a bit of kick. Using good-quality cheese makes a noticeable difference in the finished salad.
This Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad is a celebration of contrasts: tender ditalini, crunchy bell peppers and cucumber, crispy bacon bits, small cubes of Cheddar and pepper jack, minced jalapeño for heat, and chopped chives — all tossed in creamy ranch dressing. It’s a perfect summer side, and hearty enough to serve as a main course on warm days.
Serve it alongside grilled chicken, pork, beef, sausages, or hot dogs, or simply enjoy it on its own. It’s also a sneaky good breakfast option if you like savory starts — I won’t judge.
About the cheeses: I often choose Cabot Cheddar and Cabot Pepper Jack for this salad. I like that Cabot offers cheese in different formats — bricks, cracker slices, and shredded — so you can save time by using pre-sliced or shredded forms. For small, even cubes, I stack cracker slices, cut them into matchsticks, then cut across to form little cubes.
If you love pasta and potato salads, there are many variations to explore, but this Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad is a reliable winner for backyard gatherings, potlucks, and weeknight meals.
Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad
Keep the prep straightforward: quality ingredients, proper pasta cooking and cooling, a restrained amount of dressing up front, and a chill time before serving. Homemade buttermilk ranch shines here, but a bold, creamy store-bought dressing will also work well.
Use these to make Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Mixing Bowl
- Wooden Spoon
Spicy Bacon Cheddar Pasta Salad
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
- 1 pound ditalini pasta
- 8 slices bacon fried until crisp and crumbled
- 1 seedless cucumber diced
- 1/2 red or orange bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper finely diced
- 1/2 red onion finely diced
- 4 ounces Sharp Cheddar finely diced
- 4 ounces pepper jack finely diced
- 1 jalapeño pepper stem and seeds removed, finely diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes quartered
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 2/3 cup ranch dressing reserve 1/3 cup
Instructions
Cook the ditalini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the bacon, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, cheeses, jalapeño, cherry tomatoes, and chives. Toss with 2/3 cup ranch dressing, reserving 1/3 cup. Refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld. Before serving, add the reserved ranch dressing if the salad needs more creaminess.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use if needed.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @foodiewithfam on Instagram and use the hashtag #foodiewithfamily so I can see your creation!
