Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
Chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is a hearty and flavorful pasta salad made with chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, smoked cheddar cheese, and a creamy homemade ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks, summer gatherings, or an easy dinner.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 10 ounces pasta rotini or fusilli are best
- 5 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 2 cup cooked and diced chicken breasts
- 3 green onions sliced thin
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
- 1 cup cubed smoked white cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- If you are making the homemade ranch dressing, do this first and let it chill while you prep the pasta salad.
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain well before adding it to a salad bowl.
- While the pasta cooks, prep the remaining pasta salad ingredients and add them into a large salad bowl.
- Add the cooked pasta in with the other ingredients and pour in the ranch dressing. Stir everything together until it's coated in the dressing. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition info is based on using my ranch dressing recipe.
Storage - Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you want the leftovers to be as creamy as the day it's made, I recommend doubling the dressing recipe.
Nutrition
Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1119IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 161mg | Iron: 2mg