Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

On the Ruby Tuesday salad bar, you’ll find a unique pasta salad that is very flavorful and delicious. I’ve put together this awesome copycat Ruby Tuesday pasta salad recipe so that we can enjoy this great dish at home!


You can make your favorite restaurant recipes at home with these R uby Tuesday Copycat Recipes.


There’s nothing quite like eating out…except when you can eat at home and still enjoy your favorite flavors! This copycat Ruby Tuesday pass salad is tasty and super simple to make!

Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe (1)

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Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe

Whenever we go to Ruby Tuesday I enjoy their salad bar! It’s always a welcome start to a great meal and I love that they include options like pasta salad, potato salad, and a variety of other options apart from the traditional salad toppings.

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What do I need to make this pasta salad recipe?

Most of the ingredients you need for this tasty recipe you can easily pick up or you might already have them on hand. There’s nothing like a tasty pasta salad recipe to make any meal more festive.

  • Rotini pasta
  • Mayonnaise
  • Buttermilk
  • Dry ranch dressing mix
  • Diced ham,
  • Frozen green peas
  • Salt & pepper to taste

It might be surprising that you can whip up this delicious Ruby Tuesday pasta salad without any crazy ingredients but it’s true…you can make this at home with things you might already have on hand!

As always you can find the full amounts and ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post which also includes nutritional info, shopping links and more!

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How to make a copycat Ruby Tuesday pasta salad:

Let’s get ready and dive into this simple recipe. Here are the step by step instructions so you can see just how simple it is to whip up a batch of Ruby Tuesday ham and pea pasta salad to share.

This recipe is great for parties, family gatherings, and more. You’ll love how easy it is to make and everyone else will love how delicious and indulgent this pasta salad is when complete.

Be warned…once you bring it to one family function it’ll be your assigned dish from here on out!

In a large bowl combine the mayonnaise, buttermilk & ranch dressing mix. Stir until it’s all well combined.

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Next we need to add the ham!

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Get your favorite mixing spoon and mix everything well.

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Add in the frozen peas and stir to combine.

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We can’t forget the pasta! Slowly add in the cooked rotini pasta while mixing.

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Take a taste and add salt and/or pepper to your liking.

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Place the finished pasta salad in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

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Try out all of these pasta salad recipes if you need some more inspiration for enjoyable party and meal prep recipes!

Kitchen essentials for tasty recipes from Ruby Tuesday:

When you head into the kitchen to make some of these great recipes you’ll want to have the best tools on hand.

I like half sheet baking pans that are quality (hello no noisy pops or sloshed cookie dough from twisting), I line my cookie sheets with silicone baking mats. These are great for all kinds of baking and not just cookies! My husband loves them for making biscuits, pizzas, and more!

Of course mixing bowls, a mixer, spatula, and some whisks should be on your list if you don’t have ones that you love. I also like to have a set of cooling racks so that my recipes can properly cool before they’re scarfed down by my family!

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Do I have to use frozen peas?

Yes! Canned peas are going to be too soft and mushy and they’ll just breakdown.

You could also use fresh peas I suppose just blanch them and then include them! The frozen peas are the easiest option and they’re readily available so that’s the simplest choice in my opinion.

Also, using the frozen peas just makes life so much easier. You don’t have to worry about cooking them and you don’t have to worry about them getting mushed. Fresh ones will work fine as well but they require an extra step. Save yourself the hassle and just use the frozen ones!

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Can I meal prep with this pasta salad recipe?

You can definitely meal prep with this great pasta salad recipe. It comes together really quickly and tastes great.

It will hold up well in the fridge for about a week with no issues. I like to make this recipe for parties and family gatherings.

If you make it in advance just give it a good stir before serving and you will be all set. I like to make this one for meal prep because I can have some at lunch with no reheating required. Great for busy days on the go.

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My copycat Ruby Tuesday pasta salad recipe is great for lunches throughout the week. It’s not difficult to put into containers so you can grab one on the way out the door in the morning!

A great recipe to make those busy weekdays a little easier and even those nights spent on the sidelines at sporting events, etc.

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Do you have any other delicious recipes for me to try?

I absolutely do! There are so many delicious recipes here at Cook Clean Then Repeat that I don’t know how to choose just a few…but I’ll do my best! Here’s a few of my favorites!

You won’t want to miss out on these other pasta salads and easy recipes that we love to share. Check out Orzo Pasta Salad, Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad, Mango Pineapple Smoothie Bowl, Incredible Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Easy Turkey Tacos With Fresh Toppings and Homemade Seasoning, Easy Homemade Pico De Gallo, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake Recipe, and even Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers You Can’t Live Without.

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If you love Ruby Tuesday recipes try out some of these other classics:

For those of you who like Ruby Tuesday recipes you won’t want to miss out on some of the other classics that we’ve debunked and shared Copycat version of below!

Try out Ruby Tuesday Copycat Recipes (all the recipes in one spot) or Ruby Tuesday Mashed Cauliflower Recipe, Ruby Tuesday Apple Salad, Ruby Tuesday Potato Cheese Soup Recipe, Ruby Tuesday White Chicken Chili, Ruby Tuesday Biscuits, Ruby Tuesday Broccoli Salad, Ruby Tuesday Baked Potato Salad Recipe, Ruby Tuesday Mashed Potatoes Recipe, Ruby Tuesday Ranch Dressing Recipe, and Ruby Tuesday Macaroni and Cheese.

There are so many great Ruby Tuesday recipes that you can make at home. No need to head out to the restaurant if you have all of these meals on hand to try.

I especially love it because we don’t live close to a Ruby Tuesday. I can enjoy all my favorite classics from the restaurant without having to leave the house!

Printable Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe:

Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you let pasta cool before making pasta salad? ›

My Best Pasta Salad Tips

I find that the higher time range listed on box instructions is usually just about right for pasta salad. Let your pasta cool completely before tossing it with the other ingredients. If it's still warm, the hot pasta will start to cook and wilt the veggies.

Why is my pasta salad not creamy? ›

When it comes to making a cold, creamy pasta salad, keep these tips in mind: When you cook the pasta, undercook it slightly. I follow the package directions and set my timer for a minute or two before it should be done. Then, I rinse the pasta under cold water before tossing it with the salad dressing.

How do you keep pasta salad from absorbing dressing? ›

Pasta absorbs liquids, because it is made of starch, and starch absorbs water. Tossing the pasta with oil will reduce the absorption, by coating them in a water-repellent layer. Beyond this, the solution is simple: don't drain as much water from the cooked pasta, and add more dressing.

Should you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Is it healthy to eat pasta salad every day? ›

If you love pasta, there's no reason to cut it out from your diet, the experts say. It can be a great way to pack in vegetables, healthy fats from nuts, olive oil and pasta sauces, Linsenmeyer says. "It's fine to include in a regular diet as often as every day. It really is."

How do you keep pasta salad moist? ›

Add juicy ingredients.

Because pasta salad wants to dry out as it sits, I like to load mine up with secret, juicy weapons — ingredients that deliver both flavor and moisture (think: olives, capers, pickles, and peppers). These can help build flavor (zippy! Briny!

How do you make pasta salad not soggy? ›

While it's still warm, not hot, dress the pasta with half of the dressing, then stir in the remaining just before serving. Adding part of the dressing while the pasta is warm helps it bind to the pasta and sink in just a little.

Why do you put cold water in pasta? ›

This method reduces the overall cooking time. Since the pasta sits in cold water initially, it has more time to absorb water, allowing it to cook through more quickly once the water begins to boil. It's a timesaver, especially when preparing a quick meal or feeding a large group.

Why does my pasta salad taste weird? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

Is pasta salad better the next day? ›

The longer you let it sit in the fridge the more flavorful the pasta salad will taste. You can certainly eat it right away if you like, just realize it is better after about 6 hours. Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge or cover well with saran wrap.

Why is my pasta salad gummy? ›

Overcook the Pasta

Since it's not being served hot or with sauce, the pasta benefits from an extra minute of cooking, but don't let it get mushy. For a well-cooked pasta salad, plan to cook the pasta until just past al dente.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

What are the five important factors to consider in salad preparation? ›

These are the 10 important factors to consider in salad preparation:
  • Choose the right size dish.
  • Sustain a good balance of color.
  • Height makes the salad more eye-catching.
  • Cut ingredients neatly and evenly.
  • 5.Make sure that ingredients can be recognized.
  • Keep plating simple.
  • Use fresh ingredients.
  • 8.Proper textures.
Nov 25, 2021

What pastas to avoid? ›

You should avoid pasta made from refined flour if you are looking to achieve weight loss goals.

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