This Club Sandwich Pasta Salad is an easy recipe that combines all the delicious flavors found in a club sandwich into a quick pasta recipe! It is the perfect side dish to bring to any summertime cookout because it is sure to be a crowd pleaser and packs so much flavor. It features a combination of lunch meats, bacon, fresh tomatoes, lettuce and cheese tossed in a creamy ranch sauce. Gather the simple ingredients below and follow to recipe card below to get started!
Ingredients
- Tri-color rotini pasta
- Cheddar cheese
- Tomato- cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes or any juicy tomatoes will work!
- Bacon- freshly cooked or you may use real bacon bits
- Lettuce
- Ham
- Turkey
- Mayonnaise
- Ranch seasoning
- Salt & Black Pepper
Why you’ll love this recipe
This recipe is perfect for any occasion! Its easy enough to whip together last minute for a pot luck but delicious enough to serve when hosting guest you want to impress. This pasta salad is also a hearty dish which makes it super versatile! It can function as a side or as the main dish. Another big advantage of this dish is that you can make it ahead of time and personally I think it taste better the next day anyway!
How to make Club Sandwich Pasta Salad
Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with it with cold water allowing the pasta to fully cool then transfer it to a large bowl.
Add the cheese, bacon, lettuce, ham, turkey, tomato, mayonnaise and ranch seasoning. Toss together until well it is combined.
Let it rest in the refrigerator for 6 hours to overnight. Add salt and black pepper as needed. Serve & enjoy!
Variations
- Add different meat- Adding juicy chicken to the pasta salad is a great way to enhance the flavor and make the dish even more hearty! Leftover rotisserie chicken would be a great addition to this recipe.
- Add your favorite veggies- While I do recommend sticking to the basics of this recipe so you get that club sandwich flavor, you can add any of your favorite veggies! Throw in some green peppers, onions, or pickles to spice things up!
- Use bottled Ranch dressing- This recipe calls for combining mayo and ranch seasoning to form the dressing, but you are more than welcome to omit those and just add bottled Ranch dressing instead. I would recommend adding at least 1 cup of Ranch, if you choose to go this route and adjust it according to how saucy you want it.
FAQ
Why is my pasta salad dry?
- You need to add more mayonnaise. I recommend starting out with 1 cup and adjust it according to your preference. You may notice that the longer the pasta salad sits in the fridge the drier it may seem and that is because the pasta is absorbing all the excess moisture. If you do notice this, just add a little more mayo until you get the desired consistency.
How do I store leftover pasta salad?
- This recipe is actually best when made ahead of time because it allows all the delicious flavors to soak into the pasta! To store leftovers place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 2-3 days.
Top Tip
Make sure that the pasta is completely cooled before making the dish. Hot pasta will cause the lettuce to wilt and alter the texture of the mayonnaise.
Have more questions? Drop a comment below!
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out a few more of my favorites:
Ingredients
- 12 ounces tri-color pasta
- 8- ounce block of cheddar cheese cubed
- 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
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and cook pasta until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water allowing the pasta to fully cool then transfer to a large bowl
- Add cheese, bacon, lettuce, ham, turkey, tomato, mayonnaise and ranch seasoning. Toss until well combined.
- Let rest in the refrigerator for 6 hours to overnight. Serve & enjoy!
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