Description
Creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad delivers summer’s perfect picnic companion with bold ranch-infused flavors. Cool noodles mingle with crisp bacon, tender chicken, and zesty dressing, promising delightful bites you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Carbohydrates and Vegetables:
- 3 cups cooked pasta (rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup chopped cucumber (optional)
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then immediately transfer to an ice bath to halt cooking and prevent sticking. Thoroughly drain excess water.
- Dice cooked chicken into uniform bite-sized cubes and crumble crispy bacon into small fragments.
- Halve cherry tomatoes and finely mince red onion for balanced flavor distribution.
- Shred cheese into delicate pieces and slice cucumber into thin, elegant rounds.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, gently combine pasta, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, onion, and cucumber.
- Drizzle ranch dressing generously over the mixture, carefully folding ingredients to ensure complete and even coating.
- Delicately sprinkle kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting seasoning to personal preference.
- Refrigerate salad for a minimum of 45 minutes to allow flavors to harmonize and develop depth.
- Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, aromatic finish.
- Serve chilled and enjoy the medley of textures and flavors.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by grilling chicken instead of using pre-cooked, adding a smoky depth to the pasta salad.
- Customize protein options by substituting chicken with turkey, shrimp, or keeping it vegetarian with roasted chickpeas.
- Make ahead friendly: This dish tastes even better after marinating overnight, allowing ingredients to blend and intensify their flavors.
- Adapt for dietary needs by using gluten-free pasta, low-fat ranch, or dairy-free cheese alternatives to suit various health requirements.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg