Have you ever found yourself craving that deliciously creamy pasta salad from Ruby Tuesday, but didn’t want to make the trip just for a side dish? This copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad recipe will satisfy that craving right in your kitchen! It’s unbelievably close to the restaurant version – creamy, perfectly seasoned, and loaded with tender pasta, sweet peas, and savory ham. My family requests this for practically every summer gathering, and it always disappears fast!
Why You’ll Love This Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad
This Ruby Tuesday pasta salad is the perfect side dish for almost any meal. It’s creamy, satisfying, and has that distinctive Ruby Tuesday flavor that keeps everyone coming back for seconds. The combination of the rich, tangy dressing with the pasta, peas, and ham creates a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Plus, it’s super easy to make ahead – perfect for busy home cooks who want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen!
Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 1 pound (16 ounces) rotini pasta
- 1¾ cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 Tablespoons dried ranch seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 10 ounces frozen peas
- 8 ounces ham, small diced
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 pound of rotini pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes). Drain well and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process. This prevents your pasta from becoming mushy! Make sure it drains very well after rinsing – nobody wants watery pasta salad!
- Mix the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together 1¾ cups mayonnaise, ¼ cup buttermilk, 2 Tablespoons dried ranch seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until smooth and well combined. This creamy dressing is what makes this pasta salad truly special!
- Combine ingredients: In another large bowl, gently stir together the cooked pasta, 10 ounces frozen peas (no need to thaw!), and 8 ounces small-diced ham. The frozen peas will help make the salad extra cold and will thaw perfectly as they mix with the other ingredients.
- Add dressing: Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently until everything is thoroughly coated. The dressing should cling to every piece of pasta, creating that signature Ruby Tuesday creaminess.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so the flavors can mingle and develop. Trust me on this – letting it rest makes a huge difference! Right after mixing, it can taste a little mayonnaise-forward, but after chilling, the flavors balance beautifully.
- Final touch: Before serving, give the pasta salad a good stir to redistribute the dressing. Then enjoy this restaurant-quality side dish right at home!
Yield: Serves 12 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling time)
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 438kcal
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Protein: 11g
- Fat: 28g
- Sodium: 725mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
What makes this Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad so special?
This pasta salad doesn’t taste exactly like ranch dressing, even though we use ranch seasoning. Instead, the seasoning blend creates that distinctive Ruby Tuesday flavor that’s creamy, savory, and just a touch tangy from the buttermilk. The combination of tender pasta, sweet peas, and savory ham makes for a satisfying side dish that complements almost any main course.
Variations and Substitutions
- Add green peppers: According to current Ruby Tuesday employees, the restaurant now includes diced green peppers in its pasta salad. Feel free to add one diced green pepper if you enjoy that fresh, crisp element!
- Make it vegetarian: You can easily skip the ham for a vegetarian version. Consider adding diced cheddar cheese instead for extra protein and flavor.
- Buttermilk substitute: While buttermilk provides the most authentic taste, you can substitute regular milk in a pinch. However, keep in mind this will alter the flavor profile slightly from the original Ruby Tuesday version. To make a quick buttermilk substitute, add ¾ teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar to ¼ cup regular milk and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Pasta options: While rotini is traditional, other short pasta shapes like farfalle (bow ties), penne, or fusilli will work beautifully too. Just make sure to choose something with nooks and crannies to catch that delicious dressing!
Tips for Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Success
How can I prevent my Ruby Tuesday pasta salad from drying out?
Pasta tends to absorb dressing as it sits in the refrigerator. If you’re making this ahead for a party or if you have leftovers that seem dry, simply whisk together a little more mayonnaise and buttermilk (about a 3:1 ratio) and stir it into the pasta salad to refresh the creaminess.
Learn more about food safety guidelines for mayonnaise-based salads from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Should I salt my pasta water?
Absolutely! This is your only chance to season the pasta itself. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of salt to your pasta cooking water – it should taste like seawater. This makes a huge difference in the final flavor of your pasta salad!
Can I make this pasta salad ahead of time?
This is one of those dishes that gets better if made ahead! The flavors continue to develop and meld together as it sits in the refrigerator. You can easily make it a day ahead of your event. Just give it a good stir before serving.
Storage Instructions
Keep any leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors will continue to develop, making day 2 leftovers sometimes even better than day 1! I do not recommend freezing this pasta salad, as the mayonnaise-based dressing can separate, and the pasta texture will suffer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use light mayonnaise to reduce calories?
Yes, you can use light mayonnaise to reduce the calorie count. The pasta salad won’t be quite as rich and creamy, but it will still be delicious! You might want to reduce the buttermilk slightly as light mayo tends to be a bit thinner.
How far in advance can I make this pasta salad?
This Ruby Tuesday pasta salad keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Making it a day ahead allows the flavors to meld together even better. Just give it a good stir before serving!
What main dishes pair well with this pasta salad?
This versatile side dish pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, burgers, steaks, or any summer barbecue fare! It’s also substantial enough to serve as a main dish for lunch with some fresh fruit on the side.
The Perfect Side Dish for Any Occasion
So there you have it – a restaurant-quality Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad that you can make right at home! This creamy, satisfying pasta salad is perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or as a side dish for weeknight dinners. The combination of tender pasta, sweet peas, and savory ham in that distinctive creamy dressing is simply irresistible. It’s one of our favorite copycat recipes, and I’m sure it will become one of yours too!
Leave a comment below and let me know how your Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad turned out! Did you add green peppers? Try any other additions? I’d love to hear about your variations!
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Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Description
Creamy Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad loaded with tender rotini, savory ham, and sweet peas in a tangy ranch-seasoned dressing. A perfect potluck star!
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini noodles (16 ounces)
- 1 ¾ cups mayonnaise
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons dried ranch seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 10 ounces frozen peas
- 8 ounces ham, small diced
Instructions
- Cook the rotini noodles according to package directions. Drain well and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking. Make sure they’re drained completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, ranch seasoning, garlic salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked pasta, frozen peas, and diced ham to the bowl. Stir gently until everything is thoroughly coated in the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to let all those delicious flavors blend. Give it a good stir before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 438kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 725mg
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 37mg
