Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

on Jul 17, 2023

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‘Tis the season of pasta salad! And this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad will have you fending off requests for the recipe.

Bowl of chicken bacon ranch pasta salad with a wooden spoon scooping a serving out.

Pasta Salad Recipe

Have you ever shown up to a summer potluck that was serving 5 versions of the same italian dressing/mini pepperoni pasta salad? Well, I have. And I decided it was time to start making a different (even more delicious) version of the popular summer dish. Enter this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad.

The flavor profile of this easy pasta salad is hearty and delicious, while still being light enough to enjoy on a summer day. I promise when you take this to any event, you’ll never bring a full bowl home again. In fact, get used to making double – this recipe is sure to be a crowd favorite.

A bowl with all of the ingredients for chicken pasta salad arranged separately prior to being mixed up.

Ingredients in Pasta Salad

Medium shell pasta – Feel free to use whatever pasta shape you want!
Diced chicken – I use rotisserie chicken, but you can use any type of cooked chicken, including canned!
Sliced grape tomatoes – If you want to expedite the process, you can also dice up one Roma tomato.
Diced cucumber
Bacon bits, cooked – I get the ‘real bacon bits’ from costco or sam’s club and then just heat them in a skillet until nice and crispy.
Sliced green onion
Feta cheese – If you’re not a feta fan, you can use diced cheddar cheese instead.

Dressing:

Milk
Mayo
Ranch dressing mix

Close up of chicken bacon ranch pasta salad.

How to Make Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad

Cook the pasta until al dente and then immediately run under cold water until cold.
While the pasta is cooking, dice the chicken, slice the tomatoes, cucumbers and green onion and prep the bacon bits.
Prep the dressing by whisking together the dressing ingredients and placing in the fridge until needed.
Once the pasta is cooked and cold, add all of the ingredients into a large bowl and toss together with a portion of the dressing. I usually start with about half. The noodles will soak up the dressing as it sits so I like to keep extra on hand to toss when serving.
Store in the fridge. Best served immediately.

Close up of ingredients in chicken pasta salad prior to being mixed.

What other vegetables or add-ins can I include in the salad?

When it comes to this side dish, the world is your oyster! Aka, add in whatever you’d like. I recommend trying olives, diced raw mushrooms, and chopped up bell peppers. You could even opt for adding in shredded parmesan cheese, small florets of broccoli and diced red onions.

Can I make the salad ahead of time?

Yes you can! Just assemble and store in an airtight container in the fridge. I recommend waiting to mix in the dressing until right before serving. This will make sure it stays nice and creamy.