Jalapeño Ranch Pasta Salad is one creamy and flavor-packed pasta salad. Tender pasta, homemade Jalapeño Ranch Dressing, and loaded with your favorite veggies.
Do you like pasta salad with a creamy dressing or an oil & vinegar-based dressing? I like BOTH because I’m crazy about all kinds of pasta salad. I’ve shared enough pasta salad recipes already and have a Pinterest board dedicated to this fabulous summer side dish.
This Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad has a creamy, homemade ranch dressing with a kick of flavour. It’s loaded with veggies and black beans to give it a southwest edge. This recipe makes a great dinner side dish, or whip up and bring to a potluck event.
Ingredients
- Jalapenos
- Dry Ranch Dressing Mix
- Mayonnaise
- Milk
- Fusilli or rotini pasta
- Black beans
- Cucumber
- Red pepper
- Plum tomatoes
- Corn
- Green onions
- Parmesan or Asiago cheese
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Lime juice
- Cilantro
How to Make Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad
- Step One: In a food processor, add milk, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, and jalapenos; process for 30 seconds, scrape down sides, and process for a few more second. Place bowl into fridge while you continue making the salad (this needs to set at least 20 minutes in the fridge – can easily be made ahead of time and stored in fridge).
- Step Two: Cook pasta according to package directions, making sure not to overcook. Add black beans last minute of cooking. Drain, rinse with cold water, set aside.
- Step Three: In a large bowl, add cucumbers, red pepper, tomatoes, and corn; stir gently to combine. Add pasta and black beans, fold to combine. Add cheese, green onions, salt and pepper; folding again to combine.
- Step Four: Pour 1 cup of the jalapeno ranch dressing into the salad, fold carefully to evenly coat salad ingredients. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
- Step Five: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Squeeze lime juice over the top before serving.
What Pasta is Best for Jalapeño Pasta Salad
Use whatever kind of noodles you have on hand. Fusilli, rotini or even bowtie pasta is nice for presentation purposes. You can do anything from spaghetti-style noodles to bowtie, wagon wheels, and the list goes on.
Check out my other pasta salad recipes
- Roasted Pepper Pasta Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Chili Pasta Salad
- Chicken Fajita Pasta Salad
- Easy Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
- Bruschetta Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Macaroni Dill Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Ramen Noodle Salad
Also, check out my Pasta Salad board on Pinterest.
You’ll also like this Pico de Gallo.
Does the Jalapeño Ranch Need to be Made Ahead of Time
The sauce needs to be made at least 20 minutes ahead so it can blend in the fridge. Make it the night before your event and store it in the fridge. It tastes even better after the flavours have a chance to mingle together. So anywhere as little as 20 minutes to up to 24 hours for allowing the sauce to blend in its own bowl before you mix with pasta.
Can I Add Chicken to Jalapeño Pasta Salad
You can absolutely add in shredded or chopped pre-cooked chicken to your salad. This will give it that meal in one if you want to eat as a main dish instead of a side dish.
I have used leftover rotisserie chicken, used frozen shredded chicken, and it all taste great. You just don’t want an overly seasoned chicken.
Other Meats that would Taste Good
- Ground beef
- Ham
- Pepperoni
- Shrimp
- Crabmeat
How Do You Cook Pasta for Pasta Salad
You will follow the directions on the back of the box of pasta you purchase. Depending on size and shape of pasta will depend on how fast the pasta will cook.
You want to cook to around al dente, the pats will soak up the jalapeño ranch and soften as it sits in the fridge.
Do You Rinse Pasta for Pasta Salad
I do rinse my pasta after I drain it. Using cold water will stop the cooking process but also cook down the pasta. I find the hot pasta can soften the crisp veggies if tossed with hot pasta.
So just rinse under cool water until the pasta is cool to the touch, I normally run cook water with pasta in a strainer and then stir here and there.
How Long Does Pasta Salad Last in Fridge
You can store pasta salad in the fridge for 3-4 days. Use your best judgment in terms of quality. Give the pasta a good stir in between serving to incorporate the sauce.
How to Make Jalapeño Ranch Pasta Salad
Grab your food processor or blender and start by making your dressing. Slice and chop jalapeños, add in milk, mayo and ranch packet. Blend until creamy, then pour into container and store in the fridge.
Now work on cooking pasta according to the package. When the pasta has about a minute left, pour in black beans to warm them up. Drain and rinse pasta and beans. Then comes tome to chop your veggies for the salad. Add it in with pasta and beans. Pour over some sauce, stir, and refrigerate an hour before you plan to serve.
What Main Dishes Pair Well with Pasta Salad
- Chicken Recipes | Chicken is a very versatile recipe that is great for pairing with pasta salad. We love chicken in our household so whether it be a creamy casserole or simple baked chicken it will work great.
- Pork | Pork chops, tenderloin, or even a pulled pork sandwich would make a fantastic main next to this pasta salad recipe.
- Steak | Steak is another fantastic protein that I tend to serve next to pasta salads. Great for summer cookouts and entertaining.
Pretty much any and every protein will work next to the salad. These are my favorites, but feel free to try any other type of meat whether it be seafood or even say a pepperoni or salami style dish.
You’ll also like this Watermelon and Feta Salad and Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos.
Do you like your pasta salad creamy or oil & vinegar based?
Jalapeno Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 3 jalapenos stems removed and seeded
- 1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup milk
- 1 lb fusilli/rotini pasta
- 1 can black beans 15oz can, rinsed and drained
- 1 cucumber peeled and chopped
- 1 red pepper seeded and diced
- 3 plum tomatoes chopped
- 1 cup corn
- 6 green onions chopped
- 4 oz freshly grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ tsp salt
- juice from 1 lime
- fresh chopped cilantro for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a food processor, add milk, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, and jalapenos; process for 30 seconds, scrape down sides, and process for a few more second. Place bowl into fridge while you continue making the salad (this needs to set at least 20 minutes in the fridge – can easily be made ahead of time and stored in fridge).
- Cook pasta according to package directions, making sure not to overcook. Add black beans last minute of cooking. Drain, rinse with cold water, set aside.
- In a large bowl, add cucumbers, red pepper, tomatoes, and corn; stir gently to combine. Add pasta and black beans, fold to combine. Add cheese, green onions, salt and pepper; folding again to combine.
- Pour 1 cup* of the jalapeno ranch dressing into the salad, fold carefully to evenly coat salad ingredients. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour** before serving. Squeeze lime juice over the top before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Ashley Nolan says
This jalapeno ranch pasta would be a great addition to my cookouts with the family.
Wanda Tracey says
This salad looks so amazing and colorful.i love that it’s spiced up with jalepenos.I will be trying this one because I live on salads in the summer.
Dana says
Maybe I missed it, does the lime juice go on last and get stirred in? I am serving this for a party tomorrow, can’t wait!
Stacie says
Yes, just squeeze over the top before serving!
Rosanne Robinson says
WOW, this pasta salad sounds really yummy, I’m looking forward to trying it, thanks!