Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Loaded with bacon, rotisserie chicken, cheese, tomatoes and mixed with a creamy ranch dressing, this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad will be a side dish staple!
Servings: 8
Calories: 609kcal
Ingredients
- 12 ounce pack spiral pasta ( I used Wacky Pack Veggie Spiral Pack)
- 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese sharp
- 1 chopped tomato or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half
- 6 pcs thick sliced bacon diced and cooked well done
- 1 zucchini shredded (about 2 cups)
Copycat Ranch Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 pack Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make Ranch dressing ahead by combining all the 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. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes until chicken reaches 165* internal temperature. Cut the chicken into small cubes.
- Cook bacon pieces on med-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 1-2 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
Important Notes:
- 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 to a serving dish after chilling.
- When cooking the bacon, start bacon pieces in a cold skillet to ensure that your bacon cooks evenly. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
Nutrition
Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 943mg | Potassium: 310mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 337IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 1mg