I remember the first time I brought this pasta salad to a family reunion. While I’d always relied on the Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad box mix for convenience, I had decided to try making it from scratch. I was nervous as I set my bowl on the picnic table alongside the traditional family favorites, but I needn’t have worried. Within 30 minutes, my bowl was empty, with relatives asking for the recipe and wondering when I’d make it again.
That’s the magic of this homemade Suddenly Salad copycat recipe – it captures all the convenience and flavor of the boxed mix but elevates it with fresher ingredients and better taste. The combination of tender pasta, crisp vegetables, creamy ranch dressing, and savory bacon creates a side dish that’s impossible to resist. Best of all, it’s just as quick and easy to prepare as the boxed version, making it perfect for busy weeknights, last-minute potluck invitations, or anytime you need a crowd-pleasing side in a hurry.
Why Homemade Beats the Box Every Time
While the Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad mixes offer convenience, making your own version at home provides numerous advantages:
- Consistent availability – Never worry about your favorite variety being out of stock
- Better ingredients – No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives when you make it yourself
- Cost-effective – You can get a larger quantity for less money than buying multiple boxes
- Customizable – Adjust flavors and ingredients to suit your preferences
- Fresher taste – Brighter flavors from fresh vegetables and real bacon (if desired)
- Adjustable portions – Easily scale up for large gatherings or down for small family meals
Ingredients
This is what you need to make the salad:
- Pasta – Forms the hearty base of the salad and absorbs the flavorful dressing
- Green peas – Adds sweet, fresh flavor and bright color contrast
- Carrots – Provides crunch, natural sweetness, and vibrant orange color
- Mayonnaise – Creates the creamy base for the dressing
- Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix – Delivers the signature ranch flavor with herbs and spices
- Onion powder – Adds savory depth without the texture of raw onions
- Bacon bits – Contribute smoky, salty flavor and pleasing texture contrast
How to Make Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Boil pasta and carrot shreds for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Mix together the peas, ranch dressing mix, bacon bits, onion powder, and mayonnaise.
- Add the cooked pasta and carrots. Stir to coat the pasta with the mayonnaise mixture.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad until serving.
Homemade Suddenly Salad Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry shell pasta
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 8 ounces green peas
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch ranch dressing mix
- 2 tablespoons bacon bits
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Bring water to a rolling boil in a large saucepan. Add pasta and carrot shreds and boil for 10 minutes. Drain using a strainer and rinse the pasta and carrots with cold water. Shake the strainer to remove excess water from the pasta.
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the peas, the entire packet of ranch dressing mix, bacon bits, onion powder, and mayonnaise.
- Add the cooked pasta and carrots. Stir until the pasta is coated with the mayonnaise mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Video
Notes
Pro tips for success
- Don’t overcook the pasta.
- Rinse the cooked pasta in cold water. Normally, you wouldn’t do this with pasta, but it’s necessary when preparing a pasta salad to keep the pasta from cooking further. Cool the pasta entirely before making the salad.
- Choose your brand of pasta carefully. Although pasta is cheap, spend a few extra pennies on a name brand you trust.
Nutrition
Creative Variations to Make It Your Own
Protein Additions:
- Grilled Chicken: Add diced grilled chicken breast for a heartier main dish version
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: Chop and fold in for extra protein and richness
- Diced Ham: Substitute or add to the bacon for a different savory element
Vegetable Boosts:
- Fresh Broccoli: Small florets add wonderful crunch and nutrition
- Bell Peppers: Diced red, yellow, or orange peppers add sweet crunch and color
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes add juicy freshness (add just before serving)
- Cucumber: Diced cucumber adds refreshing crunch (remove seeds to prevent excess moisture)
Dressing Twists:
- Sour Cream Swap: As suggested in the original post, substitute some or all of the mayonnaise with sour cream and a splash of milk for a lighter, tangier dressing
- Greek Yogurt Option: Use Greek yogurt for a higher-protein, tangy alternative to some of the mayonnaise
- Homemade Ranch: Make your ranch seasoning blend for even fresher flavor
Flavor Enhancers:
- Spice It Up: Add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for a kick
- Fresh Herbs: Add chopped fresh dill, parsley, or chives for brightness
- Cheese Options: Mix in cubed cheddar or pepper jack cheese
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Refrigerator Storage:
Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavor often improves after the first day as ingredients meld together.
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Complete preparation: Make the entire salad up to 24 hours in advance for best results.
- Components prep: Alternatively, cook the pasta and prepare the dressing separately up to 2 days ahead, then combine a few hours before serving.
- Refresh before serving: If made in advance, stir well and add a spoonful of mayonnaise or a splash of milk if needed to restore creaminess.
For Potlucks and Picnics:
- Transport in a chilled container or cooler with ice packs
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Return to refrigeration within 2 hours (1 hour in hot weather above 90°F/32°C)
More Pasta Salad Recipes to Try
- Country Pasta Salad
- Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad
- Steakhouse Pasta Salad
- Shrimp and Pasta Salad Recipe
- Simple Macaroni Salad
- Lubys Spaghetti Salad
Recipes For Pasta Lovers
- Pasta and Egg
- Olive Garden Baked Pasta
- White Wine Garlic Shrimp Pasta Recipe
- Chicken Scampi Pasta
- Chicken Gorgonzola Pasta
- Pizza Hut Baked Pasta
- Pizza Pasta Bowl
Be sure to check out all the tasty copycat salad and great pasta recipes.
Thank you from Australia! I moved here a few years ago and have been missing the Suddenly Salad ranch and bacon. This recipe is spot on! Absolutely delicious. Used bow tie pasta as could only locate jumbo shells locally. Will be making this often for a taste of home. Thanks again!
I used ranch dip mix and sour cream, frozen peas, green onions and olives. It was absolutely wonderful and didn’t last long
I have been using the box and I am going to start making from scratch.
But, what I do is add kirkland’s canned chicken from Costco and boil 2-4 eggs and add that as well. I like mine thick as far as the Mayo goes so I think it’s best to set over night but it’s so good it’s hard to wait til the next day. Just so good completely chilled.
The best pasta salad dressing I ever had was from a Good Seasoning Packet. It was made especially for pasta salads. Strong flavor to stand up with all the different things put into a pasta salad. I have looked for this pasta salad packet for years and haven’t been able to find one. I was hoping that you could make a clone/copykat recipe. Believe me its the best dressing for pasta salad I have ever had, and I have been making pasta salad since the 1970s
I never had this before, I don’t doubt it was delicious. Penzey’s spices makes a similar product, I wonder if adding more of the base would be helpful. Their Italian dressing dry is is amazing
Hello:
Many commentators are suggesting to use ranch dressing instead of the packet that comes in the box.I don’t know if any of you ever tried to make the ranch dressing from scratch. Many recipes for this on the internet. These don’t have all those preservatives in them , are super easy to make. Give one of those recipes a try; they’re great to use.
Sandra
I doubled the recipe and used the mayo and sour cream combo. I also added in a cup of finely diced red, green and yellow pepper medley. I didn’t cook the carrots and I used leftover bacon from breakfast. Medium shells are hard to find so I used the small shells. This was fantastic.
I made it with 2/3 cup mayo and 1/3 cup sour cream (but I also used more pasta than called for). Perfection!
Yum! This came out so good! Just like the stuff in the box, if not better! I added couple spoonfuls of plain yogurt that I needed to use up, but otherwise followed the instructions. Thanks for a delicious, easy recipe!
Fantastic recipe! Thank you Stephanie for making this amazing dish so easy! I thought I’d add that if you want this as a heartier “meal”, I suggest adding some diced ham, turkey or chicken. My crew loves the ham the most😁 Thanks again and God Bless!
Absolutely the best tasting pasta salad I have ever tasted. So yummy! I could eat the whole bowl myself. Thanks grandma so tasty, only way i will be doing it from now on.
Excellent, used the frozen peas and added a bit of sour cream. Never will buy a box again.
Going to try this… I was going to just use ranch dressing instead of the packet and mayo………………… I probably will still.
This recipe is sooo good! I won’t buy the box again. How long does it stay good for?
This has never lasted for more than 4 or 5 days at my house.
I wonder how this would be as a potato salad variation instead of pasta?
I think it would be great!
I used mayo the last time and thought it was too heavy. So this time I used sour cream and a few splashes of milk and it was creamier and lighter then using the mayo. So much better.Very yummy.
Thanks so much for this. A few years ago they started packaging this product with the tiny shell pasta instead of the medium shell pasta (cheaper for them, same price for us) so I have boycotted them, but loved the flavor and will give this a try.
try using ranch instead of mayo
WOW! This is a great knock off recipe–in fact, it is better than the box! I found the young peas in a can to be a little to soft, though. Next time, I will try the frozen peas for more cripsness. But it is GREAT!
i only used mayo and the sauce
Which sauce, Ashley?
Thanks for sharing this recipe. My family loves this salad, and they were out of it at Shop Rite todaY!
Happy barbequeing!