Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

I love super simple recipes. This pasta salad is full of flavor and takes no time at all to throw together. It's a favorite of ours for BBQ's! You can choose your favorite type of pasta for this salad. I love to use the Trio Italiano because there are Shells, Rotini and Penne in there and it just looks pretty. However, Farfalle pasta, (bow-tie), looks beautiful too!

Ingredients:
1 lb pasta, cooked according to directions, drained and then immediately rinsed under cold water in a colander
4 oz shredded carrot (you can find it already shredded in the produce dept)
1-1/2 cups frozen peas (rinsed under cold water until mostly defrosted and drained)
1 3oz pkg of real bacon pieces (not the crunchy bacon bits, but the pieces that can be found next to them in a bag)
5 oz shredded Parmesan cheese
1 bottle of ranch with bacon dressing
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss everything in a large bowl reserving just a spoonful of the bacon pieces and Parmesan cheese to sprinkle over the top for garnish. Only use as much dressing as you need to keep the salad moist. Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours to let the flavors meld before serving.

*Photo updated 4/27/19

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