Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
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.
Servings: 7
Calories: 811kcal
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
Calories: 811kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 911mg | Potassium: 346mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 475IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 1mg