Irresistible Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad: Easy Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 1 (8 ounce) package Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 small red onion, diced very small
• 0.5 small green bell pepper, diced very small
• 1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix

Instructions

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until perfectly crisp, approximately 10 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper-towel-lined plate to remove excess grease. Once cooled, crumble the bacon and set aside for later use.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the cooked macaroni thoroughly. Rinse the macaroni with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down; drain well again.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, crumbled bacon, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, red onion, bell pepper, and ranch dressing mix. Mix all ingredients until well combined. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition

• Calories: 583 kcal
• Fat Content: 35 g
• Fiber Content: 3 g
• Sugar Content: 2 g
• Sodium Content: 736 mg
• Protein Content: 18 g
• Cholesterol Content: 47 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 48 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g