Description
This Club Sandwich Pasta Salad combines the flavors of a classic club sandwich in a refreshing pasta salad. Featuring tri-color pasta, cheddar cheese, bacon, ham, turkey, fresh tomato, lettuce, and a creamy ranch-seasoned mayonnaise dressing, this dish is perfect for quick lunches, potlucks, or gatherings. It’s easy to prepare, takes only 15 minutes of active cooking time, and benefits from a chilling period to enhance the flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese
- 12 ounces tri-color pasta
- 8-ounce block of cheddar cheese, cubed
Meats and Vegetables
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 cup lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup lunch meat ham, diced
- 1 cup lunch meat turkey, diced
Dressings and Seasonings
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the tri-color pasta until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely. Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Add Ingredients: To the bowl with the pasta, add cubed cheddar cheese, cooked and chopped bacon, chopped lettuce, diced ham, diced turkey, diced tomato, mayonnaise, and the ranch seasoning packet.
- Mix and Chill: Toss all ingredients thoroughly until well combined and evenly coated with the mayonnaise and ranch seasoning. Cover the bowl and let the salad rest in the refrigerator for 6 hours to overnight to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, use freshly cooked pasta that is cooled completely before mixing to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Feel free to substitute meats or add other club sandwich ingredients like pickles or cheese varieties to customize the salad.
- The salad can be prepared the day before and tastes even better after resting overnight.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days for optimum freshness.
- To reduce fat content, consider using low-fat mayonnaise or Greek yogurt as a dressing alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: club sandwich pasta salad, tri-color pasta salad, easy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, ranch pasta salad, picnic salad, lunch salad
