Description
A delicious and creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad combining spiral pasta, rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, sharp cheddar cheese, and homemade ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or a flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad
- 12 ounce pack spiral pasta
- 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 chopped tomato or handful of cherry tomatoes halved
- 6 pieces thick sliced bacon, diced and cooked well done
- 1 zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
Copycat Ranch Dressing
- 1 pack Ranch Dressing mix
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F if using uncooked chicken.
- Make Ranch Dressing: Combine the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, buttermilk, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside.
- Cook Chicken (Optional): If using raw chicken, season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, place in a baking dish, and bake for 30 to 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cut into small cubes.
- Cook Bacon: Place diced bacon pieces in a cold skillet, cook over medium-low heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and keep pasta loose. Transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl to cool.
- Combine Ingredients: Add chopped chicken, shredded zucchini, chopped tomatoes, cooked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing to the pasta bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta with cold water stops cooking and prevents sticking, ideal for cold pasta salads.
- Use a large mixing bowl to combine ingredients comfortably before transferring to a serving dish.
- Starting bacon in a cold skillet ensures even cooking and crispness.
- If using pre-cooked chicken, omit baking step for faster preparation.
- You can substitute the ranch dressing mix with homemade ranch seasoning for a fresher taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
