Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Name: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 cups rotisserie chicken, (chopped); 6 pieces thick-sliced bacon, (diced and cooked well done); 12 ounces spiral pasta, (I used Wacky Pack Veggie Spiral Pack); 1 zucchini, (shredded (about 2 cups)); 1 tomato, (chopped (or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half)); 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, (shredded); 1 recipe copycat ranch dressing, (or bottled ranch dressing); 1 package ranch seasoning; 1 cup mayonnaise; ¾ cup buttermilk; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ teaspoon paprika; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

A hearty dish that you can serve on the side or by itself, this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is full of delicious fresh ingredients and flavors that will have you coming back for more.

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Table of Contents

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
How To Serve This Chicken Pasta Ranch Salad
Storing This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You'll Love
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So many classic flavors come together to create this tasty chicken bacon ranch pasta salad. Tender chicken, spiral pasta, fresh crisp vegetables, and tangy cheese all drenched in a homemade ranch dressing make this a fantastic entree salad.

close up shot of chicken bacon ranch pasta salad with ranch dressing in a bowl with a spoon

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Ingredients

chicken bacon ranch pasta salad raw ingredients that are labeled

One bite of the chicken bacon ranch pasta salad, and you’ll be hooked. The flavors blend together in perfect harmony, with the smokiness of the bacon perfectly complementing the creaminess of the ranch dressing.

The pasta provides that comforting feeling of a classic dish, while the chicken adds a protein boost. This salad is so flavorful and satisfying that you’ll be finding yourself making it again and again.

You’ll need:

For The Salad:

3 cups of chopped cooked chicken
6 pieces of thick sliced bacon, diced and cooked well done
12-ounce pack of spiral pasta
1 zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
1 chopped tomato, or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, sharp
1 recipe of copycat ranch dressing (recipe below), or 1 bottle of ranch dressing

For The Ranch Dressing:

1 package of ranch seasoning
1 cup of mayonnaise
¾ cup of buttermilk
¼ teaspoon of black pepper
¼ teaspoon of paprika
¼ teaspoon of garlic powder

PRO TIP:

You can use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store in this recipe instead of cooking your chicken breast in the oven. This is a great time saver.

Substitutions And Additions

VEGETABLES: Toss in onions, cucumber, green peppers, or any other veggies you like to add to your salad.

HARD-BOILED EGGS: Add another boost of protein with diced hard-boiled eggs.

DRESSING: If you prefer, you can use bottled ranch dressing instead of the packet.

CHEESE: Any type of hard cheese would be excellent in this salad including, mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack, or Colby-Jack cheese. Also, add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.

BUTTERMILK: You can make your own buttermilk using whole or 2% milk and lemon juice or distilled vinegar. For every 1 cup of milk, stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

How To Make This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe

Once the individual components are prepared, this creamy pasta salad will come together in no time. Let’s get started!

STEP ONE: Make the ranch dressing ahead by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

ranch dressing ingredients whisked together in a measuring cup

STEP TWO: If you are using uncooked chicken, then proceed with this step: Season the chicken with salt & pepper, drizzle with olive oil, then place in a baking dish. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 350°F until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.

STEP THREE: Cook the bacon pieces on medium-low heat until crisp. Follow this link to find our recipe for oven-baked bacon or cook in a stovetop skillet.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Start the bacon pieces in a cold skillet to ensure that your bacon cooks evenly. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.

STEP FOUR: Cook pasta according to the box directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Then place into a large mixing bowl to cool while preparing other ingredients.

PRO TIP:

Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water after draining is best when doing a cold pasta salad recipe. It stops the pasta from cooking, and it keeps the pasta loose for the salad.

STEP FIVE: Add the chicken to the bowl of pasta. Then add the shredded zucchini, tomatoes, cooked bacon, and shredded cheddar.

zucchini, bacon, chicken, tomato, and cheese combined in a bowl,

STEP SIX: Pour the ranch dressing over the salad ingredients.

ranch dressing poured over salad ingredients in a bowl

STEP SEVEN: Mix the salad together until well combined.

STEP EIGHT: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

PRO TIP:

You need a large bowl to mix everything together but then can transfer it to a serving dish after chilling.

How To Serve This Chicken Pasta Ranch Salad

Make up a big batch of this chicken bacon cheddar ranch pasta salad to go alongside grilled chicken, grilled tilapia, hamburgers, and corn on the cob.

Serve with our iced tea, raspberry iced tea, sweet peach iced tea, or our southern strawberry sweet tea on the side.

Pasta salads are all the rage for summer side dishes. A few options include BLT pasta salad, dill pickle pasta salad, and Italian pasta salad.

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Storing This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad Recipe

I love having a pasta salad in the fridge during the summer for easy meals. Here’s how to keep it fresh for a few days.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store the salad in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. You can add a bit more ranch dressing when serving leftovers.

IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this salad as several of the ingredients don’t freeze well.

close up shot of chicken bacon ranch pasta salad with ranch dressing

This cold chicken bacon ranch pasta salad packs in so much flavor. A rainbow of colors and ingredients mingle together for this yummy pasta salad that will be a hit at the next potluck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze pasta salad?

Pasta salad would not freeze well. It is best to make it fresh within a couple of days of serving it.

Can I use bottled ranch dressing instead of the package of the mix?

You can substitute the dry mix for a bottle of ranch dressing in this recipe.

What type of pasta is best in pasta salad?

Any bite-sized pasta works well in pasta salad. Penne, bowties, or rotini are all excellent choices.

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Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

5 from 3 votes

A hearty dish that you can serve on the side or by itself, this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is full of delicious fresh ingredients and flavors that will have you coming back for more.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings

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Ingredients

Salad

3 cups rotisserie chicken, chopped
6 pieces thick-sliced bacon, diced and cooked well done
12 ounces spiral pasta, I used Wacky Pack Veggie Spiral Pack
1 zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
1 tomato, chopped (or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half)
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 recipe copycat ranch dressing, or bottled ranch dressing

Copycat Ranch Dressing

1 package ranch seasoning
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup buttermilk
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Make the ranch dressing ahead by combining all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
If you are using uncooked chicken instead of pre-cooked chicken, proceed with this step: Season chicken with salt & pepper, drizzle with olive oil, then place in a baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until the chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
Cook the bacon pieces on medium-low heat until crisp.
Cook pasta according to box directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Then place into a large mixing bowl to cool while preparing other ingredients.
Add chicken to the bowl of pasta. Then add the shredded zucchini, tomatoes, cooked bacon, shredded cheddar, and ranch dressing. Mix everything to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Video

Notes

You can use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store in this recipe instead of cooking your chicken breast in the oven. This is a great time saver.
Start bacon pieces in a cold skillet to ensure that your bacon cooks evenly. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water after draining is best when doing a cold pasta salad recipe. It stops the pasta from cooking, and it keeps the pasta loose for the salad.
You need a large bowl to mix everything together but then can transfer it to a serving dish after chilling.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Rhadonda Sedgwick Creative Director
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

How To Make This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe

How To Serve This Chicken Pasta Ranch Salad

Pasta Taco Salad

Pasta Salad

Storing This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

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