• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Foodle Club

  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes (date order)
  • Convert grams to cups
  • How to guides
  • Collections
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • All Recipes (date order)
  • Convert grams to cups
  • How to guides
  • Collections
  • About
  • Mobile Menu

    • Facebook
  • ×
    • Duck a l'Orange on a dinner plate with vegetables and a helping of gravy.
      Slow cooker Duck a l'Orange - with duck crown
    • Overhead shot of a baked zucchini quiche with tomato and cheese topping.
      Cheesy zucchini and carrot quiche - no crust, no fuss
    • A sqiuare piece of coconut marshmallow wee-bix slice on a whte plate.
      Coconut marshmallow Weet-bix slice
    • Pieces of air fried chicken on a white serving platter with bowls of salad in the background.
      Air fryer barbeque chicken - with a chutney glaze
    • A dish of pork and apple casserole on a table with mashed potatoes an broad beans.
      Slow-cooked pork and apple casserole with brandy gravy
    • A dish of chicken aloo matar with Indian green beans in the foreground.
      Chicken Aloo Matar (one pot chicken, potato and pea curry)
    • Pea and broad bean salad in a bue serving dish.
      Green pea and broad bean salad
    • A white serving dish filled with creamy mushroom pasta salad.
      Creamy mushroom pasta salad - with a tangy twist
    • A spoonful of sweet and sour dipping sauce being lifted from a small bowl.
      Quick and easy sweet and sour dipping sauce
    • A crispy prawn spring roll that has been dipped in dipping sauce.
      Crispy prawn spring rolls
    • Slices of chocolate loaf cake with a covering of chocolate.
      Chocolate ice cream loaf cake
    • Sliced pot roast of brisket on a serving platter, garnished with rosemary, with potatoes and carrots on the side.
      Braised brisket pot roast with tasty capsicum gravy
    Home » Recipes » Sides and salad recipes

    Smoked salmon pasta salad with homemade ranch dressing

    Published: Jun 1, 2020 · Modified: May 30, 2024 by VJ · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to recipe

    This easy smoked salmon pasta salad contains only 3 ingredients - tasty smoked salmon combined with noodles, and slathered with homemade ranch dressing. Serve as part of an alfresco buffet, or add additional ingredients and turn it into a delicious light summer lunch dish.

    A bowl of smoked salmon pasta salad with a dish of homemade ranch dressing.
    Jump to:
    • Basic smoked salmon pasta with ranch dressing
    • Variations on smoked salmon pasta salad
    • How to make smoked salmon pasta salad
    • How to make homemade ranch dressing
    • Save for later
    • Related recipes
    • 📋The recipe

    Basic smoked salmon pasta with ranch dressing

    I came up with the idea for this smoked salmon pasta salad quite by chance.

    I was looking for a salad to serve alongside some lamb chops which were destined for the barbeque. All I had in the fridge was a packet of smoked salmon and a bottle of homemade ranch dressing.

    So while Graham was firing up the barbeque, I boiled half a packet of pasta shells, chopped up the salmon and combined it all with the ranch dressing. And voila! A new salad was born.

    The ranch dressing coated each pasta shell in a delicious creaminess, while the flavours of the dill complemented the salmon perfectly.

    And of course, you don't have to use homemade ranch dressing, you could use your favourite bottle of store-bought dressing. But I think homemade is much nicer because you can adjust the flavours to your own taste.

    This salad is ideal for taking on a picnic because the flavours improve with standing so you can make it ahead of time, pack it in a suitable container, and pop it into your picnic hamper.

    Variations on smoked salmon pasta salad

    This recipe for smoked salmon pasta salad is only a basic recipe. You can turn this salad into a substantial lunch dish by adding any (or all) of the following:

    • Chopped celery - for crunch
    • Halved cherry tomatoes - for sweetness
    • Chopped boiled eggs - which always go well with smoked salmon
    • Chopped avocado - for extra creaminess
    A bowl of smoked salmon pasta salad with a dish of homemade ranch dressing.

    How to make smoked salmon pasta salad

    You can get the detailed recipe on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

    Start by boiling up your pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a serving dish.

    When choosing a pasta shape, go for a shell (conchiglie) or a ridged or twisted pasta such as fusilli. These shapes will hold lots of yummy dressing. Don't use a tubular pasta such as macaroni or penne as the dressing will not make its way inside the tube and the salad may be dry.

    Cut the smoked salmon into 1" cubes and add to the warm pasta.

    Add the homemade ranch dressing and mix well to combine. Cover and leave the salad to cool to room temperature before serving.

    Mixing the salad while the pasta is still warm allows the flavours to develop.

    How to make homemade ranch dressing

    A bowl of homemade ranch dressing next to a bottle of dressing.

    Making your own homemade ranch dressing is so easy.

    All you need are equal quantites of buttermilk and mayonnaise. You could even whip up a batch of homemade mayonnaise and use that!

    If you don't have buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk. Let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes until the milk thickens.

    For the flavouring, you will need vinegar or lemon juice, salt and pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and some herbs. The basic herbs are parsley and dill. If you prefer additional onion flavour you can also add chives.

    You can use fresh herbs, dried herbs or a mixture of the two. If you are using dried herbs you will only need ⅓ the quantity of fresh herbs, as dried herbs are more concentrated.

    Just whisk everything together, then pour the homemade ranch dressing into a clean jar or bottle. Let it chill in the fridge overnight, until the flavours have combined.

    If you'd like to be notified of new recipes, why not subscribe to my newsletter? To say thank you, you will receive a free recipe e-book containing some of my most popular cakes and desserts.

    How long will homemade ranch dressing last?

    This homemade ranch dressing will last in the fridge for about a week or until the expiry date of the buttermilk.

    What can I substitute for buttermilk?

    If you don't have buttermilk you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to each 1 cup of milk. Stir and let the milk stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes until it has curdled and thickened and use in place of buttermilk.

    Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?

    You can use ⅓ the quantity of dried herbs instead of freshly chopped herbs. For example, if the recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of fresh parsley, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of dried parsley.

    What other flavourings can I add?

    Once you have made the basic ranch dressing recipe you can add any other flavourings of your choice.

    • Chilli - this will add additional heat. Just chop a small chilli or add ½ teaspoon of chilli flakes (or to your own taste depending on how hot you want to make it.
    • Worcestershire sauce - this adds an umami flavour. Add 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce to the basic recipe.
    • Paprika - adds a smokey flavour and goes particularly well if you are using the dressing for a salad to be served with meat. Add 1 teaspoon of paprika to the basic recipe.
    • Chopped chives - if you like more of an onion taste.

    Save for later

    Why not save this smoked salmon pasta recipe to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it easily? Just click the image below.

    Alternatively, you can save the recipe by clicking on the floating heart icon on the right-hand side of the screen.

    Related recipes

    You will find many other salad dishes on my picnic and barbeque recipes page. Here are a few salads made with pasta that you might enjoy.

    • Roasted red pepper pasta with prawns in a frying pan.
      Roasted red pepper pasta with prawns
    • A bowl of tuna noodle pasta garnished with lemon slices.
      Tuna noodle salad - with lemon
    • A dish of cheesy barbeque pasta sprinkled with chopped parsley.
      Tomato and onion pasta salad in a creamy cheese sauce
    • A bowl of salmon and red pepper pasta salad, sprinkled with chopped parsley.
      Salmon and red pepper pasta salad with corn

    📋The recipe

    A bowl of smoked salmon pasta salad with a dish of homemade ranch dressing.

    Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad with homemade ranch dressing

    This easy smoked salmon pasta salad contains only 3 ingredients. Tasty smoked salmon combined with noodles, and slathered with homemade ranch dressing. Serve as part of an alfresco buffet, or add additional ingredients and turn it into a delicious light summer lunch dish.
    Recipe by: Veronica
    Lunch, Sauces, Side Dish
    American
    Calories 425
    Prep 10 minutes minutes
    Leave ranch dressing overnight in fridge 12 hours hours
    Cook 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 12 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Print Pin Comment Bookmark Saved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 1 vote

    (Click the stars to rate this recipe)

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Serving dish
    • Mixing bowl
    • Whisk
    • Sharp Knife
    • Chopping Board
    • Storage bottle

    Ingredients

    Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

    • 8 ounce (225g) pasta shells
    • 5 ounce (150g) smoked salmon
    • 1½ cups ranch dressing or sufficient to coat pasta

    Homemade Ranch Dressing

    • ¾ cup mayonnaise
    • ¾ cup buttermilk
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoons fresh chopped dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

    • Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet, then drain and transfer to a serving dish.
    • Cut the smoked salmon into 1" squares and add to the pasta.
    • Pour over 1½ cup of ranch dressing while the pasta is still warm and stir well to combine.
    • Allow to cool and serve at room temperature.

    Homemade Ranch Dressing

    • Combine the mayonnaise and buttermilk in a mixing bowl
    • Add the vinegar, herbs and spices and whisk to combine.
    • Pour into a clean jar or bottle and leave overnight in the fridge for the flavours to develop.

    Notes

     
    Additional ingredients you may like to add to the salad -
    • Chopped celery - for crunch
    • Halved cherry tomatoes - for sweetness
    • Chopped boiled eggs - which always go well with smoked salmon
    • Chopped avocado - for extra creaminess
     
    Variations for the ranch dressing -
    • ½ teaspoon dried chili
    • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
     
    Calories have been calculated based on all the ranch dressing being used for the salad.

    Nutrition

    Calories - 425kcal | Carbohydrates - 49.1g | Protein - 16.4g | Fat - 18.3g | Saturated Fat - 3g | Cholesterol - 68mg | Sodium - 1422mg | Potassium - 313mg | Fiber - 0.4g | Sugar - 5.6g | Calcium - 94mg | Iron - 3mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information has been calculated using an on-line calculator, and is intended for information and guidance purposes only. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should consider calculating it yourself, using your preferred tool.

    Unless otherwise stated, a cup is the standard US cup containing 240 ml. In all my recipes this cup is assumed to hold 140g of flour. For help converting other ingredients between cups, grams, ounces and other measures, see my recipe conversion calculator.
    All my recipes are developed and tested at sea-level. For tips on adjusting recipes for high altitudes see my post on baking at high altitudes.
    Tried this recipe?If you made this recipe I'd love it if you could leave me a comment and let me know how it went!
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

    If you made this recipe and enjoyed it, I'd love it if you could give me a star rating in the comments below. And if you'd like to get in touch, you can email me at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you. And don't forget to subscribe to my mailing list so you can grab yourself a copy of my FREE COOKBOOK!

    If you'd like to continue browsing, just click on this link to all my recipes.

    More Sides and salad recipes

    • A forkful of risotto alla Milanese being lifted from a serving dish.
      Simple risotto alla Milanese - made without wine
    • A cheesy potato and onion slice being dipped into a bowl of tomato ketchup.
      Cheesy potato and onion slices
    • Overhead shot of a creamy crab and roasted pepper pasta salad. The salad is in a white bowl and is surrounded by dishes of other salads and a platter of cold meat.
      Creamy crab and roasted pepper pasta salad
    • A dish of Anglesey eggs next to a plate of lightly battered pieces of fish. There is a bowl of peas in the background.
      Anglesey Eggs
    32 shares
    • Share on Facebook
    • Tweet

    About VJ

    Before I started my food blog I was an IT Consultant. Now that I've swapped an office for a kitchen I have a lot more time to spend on things that interest me such as trying out new recipes. Most of my cooking is based around quick and easy meals, mostly made from scratch, using everyday pantry ingredients.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. VJ

      September 30, 2020 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      I love how quick and easy this salad is to make. It's my new go-to pasta salad whenever I have friends round for a barbeque.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    A picture of Veronica in the garden in front of a pink-flowering shrub.

    Hi, I'm Veronica! Welcome to my little kitchen. Step inside and browse my collection of recipes collected over the years.

    More about me →

    Readers favourites

    These are my most viewed recipes:

    • Sliced silverside on a plate with carrots and potatoes.
      Slow-cooker beef silverside
    • Slices of oven-baked gammon on a serving dish.
      Easy oven-baked gammon
    • Overhead shot of a white serving bowl filled with beef and kidney stew. There is a large wooden spoon at the side of the bowl.
      Slow-cooker beef and kidney stew
    • A slice of bacon and egg pie on a plate
      Proper bacon and egg pie
    • A pile of crusty German bread rolls.
      Crusty German bread rolls (Brotchen)
    • A dish of twice-cooked pork belly garnished with sesame seeds and spring onions.
      Twice cooked pork belly - with a sticky glaze

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Subscribe

    • Subscribe to my newsletter and get a free recipe ebook.

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 www.foodleclub.com

    Copyright © 2025 Foodleclub.com

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.