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Bow-Tie Cowboy Pasta Salad

This bow-tie cowboy pasta salad recipe uses a tasty mix of fresh veggies, bow-tie pasta, and a delectable ranch sauce that your family will gobble up as quickly as mine did!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 4076.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Stockpot For cooking pasta
  • 1 Colander For draining pasta
  • 1 Large Skillet For cooking peas
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining salad ingredients
  • 1 Whisk For preparing the dressing

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 16 ounce package bow-tie pasta (such as Barilla)
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil Optional
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup creamy salad dressing such as Miracle Whip
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 1 ounce package ranch dressing mix (such as Hidden Valley)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic salt
  • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
  • 1 16 ounce can mushroom stems and pieces
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese divided
  • ½ cup bacon bits
  • ⅓ cup diced red onion
  • ⅓ cup chopped green onion

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain; rinse with cold water.
  • Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add peas; cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes. Cool.
  • Meanwhile, combine salad dressing, milk, ranch mix, and garlic salt in a large bowl until smooth; add broccoli, mushrooms, ½ cup Cheddar cheese, bacon bits, red onion, green onion, and cooled peas and mix thoroughly.
  • Mix pasta into salad; top with remaining ½ cup Cheddar cheese and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

1. Achieving al dente pasta is crucial; it provides the ideal texture for cold pasta salads. Rinsing with cold water immediately after draining stops the cooking and prevents clumping. 2. Ensure the cooked peas are thoroughly cooled before adding them to the salad. Introducing warm ingredients can negatively affect the overall texture and freshness of the final dish. 3. For an elevated ranch flavor, consider incorporating fresh dill or chives into the dressing. A touch of acidity, like a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of white wine vinegar, can brighten the salad's profile. 4. Roasting the broccoli florets lightly before adding them can introduce a deeper, more savory flavor profile. This salad benefits from chilling for at least an hour to allow all flavors to fully meld.