Description
A flavorful and hearty Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad combining tender rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and a creamy homemade ranch dressing, perfect for potlucks or a satisfying lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad
- 12 ounce pack spiral pasta
- 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 chopped tomato or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half
- 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
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F if cooking raw chicken.
- Prepare Ranch Dressing: In a small bowl, combine Ranch Dressing mix, mayonnaise, buttermilk, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well and set aside to develop flavors.
- Cook Chicken (if needed): If using raw chicken, season with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, place in a baking dish, and bake at 350°F for 30 to 45 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cool and cut into small cubes.
- Cook Bacon: Place diced bacon pieces in a cold skillet and cook over medium-low heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the spiral pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and keep pasta loose. Place in a large mixing bowl to cool.
- Combine Ingredients: To the bowl of pasta, add chopped rotisserie chicken, shredded zucchini, chopped tomatoes, cooked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and the prepared ranch dressing. Mix gently but thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Chill: Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill before serving.
Notes
- Rinsing the cooked pasta in cold water stops the cooking process and keeps the pasta from sticking.
- Start cooking bacon in a cold skillet to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- You can prepare the ranch dressing ahead of time to enhance the flavor.
- Use a large mixing bowl to combine the salad ingredients for easy mixing and transfer.
- Substitute rotisserie chicken with cooked shredded chicken if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
