Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Tortellini Pasta Salad

So, like every grocery store I’ve ever been to seems to have some version of chicken bacon ranch pasta salad.  And it always has waaaay to much sauce.  It’s positively swimming!

I suppose that’s just my personal preference but I can’t stand over-dressed salads - pasta or lettuce!

So I decided to make my own version of this favorite, lightly dressed (just how I like it) and with tortellini as the pasta – delicious!

Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Tortellini Pasta Salad

15 ounces cheese tortellini

1 large, cooked chicken breast, diced, about 2 cups

½ cup bacon bits (store bought or cook and crumble your own)

1 small crown broccoli, cut into small florets

1 cucumber, seeded and diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced

¼ cup ranch dressing

2 tablespoons sour cream

2 tablespoons miracle whip

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Salt & pepper, to taste

Cook tortellini according to package instructions.  Drain and cool to room temperature.

Add the tortellini chicken, bacon, broccoli, cucumber, and carrot to a large bowl.

Whisk together the ranch dressing, sour cream, miracle whip, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Pour the dressing over the tortellini mixture and stir to coat.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.  Before serving, stir and adjust seasonings as needed.