Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a light, filling, and flavorful pasta that can easily be whipped together in minutes.
It has all the southwest ranch pasta salad flavors but mixed with Hidden Valley Ranch, so it’s truly perfect.
What is Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad?
A pasta salad recipe that utilizes Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch. This mix is the perfect blend of southwest ranch and Italian dressing flavors blended into one special dressing that’s perfect for pasta salads.
How to make
Ingredients:
- 4 oz. package of Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Seasoning Mix
- 1 cup of Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing
- 10 oz. box of pasta (elbows or rotini)
- 2 cups of cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
- ½ cup red onion, chopped
- ½ cup bell pepper, chopped
Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside until completely cooled.
2. While the pasta is cooking, mix dressing and seasoning in a large bowl until blended well.
3. When completely cooled, combine pasta, chicken, onion, and bell pepper in a large bowl and mix well.
4. Pour dressing onto the pasta and mix well.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap to keep the salad from drying out while refrigerating for up to a day before serving.
6. To serve, ladle into bowls or plates and garnish with chopped green onions if desired. Add more dressing as desired to add flavor or spice to your Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad recipe.
History
Hidden Valley Ranch is a brand of ranch salad dressing that Steve Henson created in the 1950s.
A few years later, his wife Gayle Henson began mixing up different flavor combinations for the ranch mix, resulting in a special blend of ranch and Italian dressing flavors that would become Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch.
Price
Packaged Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad mix is available online from Amazon.com for $10.00 for a one-pound container,
which would make a nineteen-ounce pasta salad with Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch that should serve six to eight people.
Health Benefits of Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a well-balanced pasta salad with a combination of healthy ingredients.
This recipe contains 65% fresh vegetables, a good portion for one serving. It also contains protein from chicken and pasta and low-fat dressing, so this pasta salad is healthy for you.
Amazing 6 freezing Ideas of Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad
1. Freezer:
Freeze Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad for later use. Allow to thaw and allow the salad to warm up in the microwave before serving.
2. Freezing Vegetable Pasta Salad:
Prepare Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad and mix with your favorite vegetable varieties or something you don’t normally eat together, like a chopped green onion for a fresh taste, but also a lot of variety.
3. Freezer:
Prepare Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad and refrigerate overnight so the dressing can be set up into a nice, thick sauce.
Serve over cooked pasta and add toppings such as crumbled cooked bacon, chive, or gourmet cheese when serving.
4. Cold Pack:
Prepare Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad and refrigerate in an airtight container. This method is similar to freezing but less work.
5. Freezer:
Prepare Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad and quickly mix with chopped green onions and Parmesan cheese into a large bag or container and freeze for later use.
6. Refrigerator:
Prepare Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad, refrigerate overnight and then allow to reach room temperature before serving, so the dressing doesn’t settle in the bowl or get watered down when performing.
Is It Healthy?
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a balanced, healthy pasta salad with fresh vegetables, protein from chicken, and low-fat dressing.
Is It Expensive?
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a quick and easy pasta salad that is inexpensive and healthy. The cost per serving is low, and the ingredients are cheap.
Is It Gluten-Free?
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free pasta. This recipe does not include ingredients that might be difficult for a gluten-free person to eat, so this pasta salad would be healthy for those who aren’t gluten-free.
Is It Low Carb?
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is low in carbs and can be eaten as a healthy meal or snack.
Is It Diet-Friendly?
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a healthy meal or snack that can be eaten as a low-carb meal.
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad also has the following ingredients: chicken, pasta, onions, pasta.
Does Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad Have Cocktail Sauce?
Not all Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad recipes include cocktail sauce, although many do.
The cocktail sauce can be mixed with Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad to add flavor or spice.
The cocktail sauce was traditionally thought to have originated from the practice of pirates, who stored their supply of alcohol on ships.
After digging up the liquor from the bottom of the ocean, some pirates were said to have mixed it with spices or other ingredients left on board after a shipwreck before drinking it.
Conclusion
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is a healthy, tasty pasta salad that contains ranch dressing and Italian dressing for an interesting flavor.
It also contains chicken and fresh vegetables for a well-balanced meal. The main ingredients of this pasta salad are low-fat and easy to digest, so it’s not likely to cause indigestion or other health problems if you eat it in moderation.
Hidden Valley Southwest Ranch Pasta Salad is also inexpensive, though it can get expensive if purchased in the store or online.
