Be ready for pasta salad season with this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe. Made with tender pasta, hearty chicken, crispy bacon, and tangy ranch dressing, this comforting and satisfying dish is a hit for weeknight dinners and at potlucks, picnics, and summer BBQs!
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad Recipe:
- Short Ingredient List: No fancy or hard-to-find ingredients here! You just need 7 common ingredients, such as pasta, cheddar cheese, cooked chicken and bacon, and ranch dressing.
- Big Flavor: Creamy and tangy ranch is a dreamy complement for meaty chicken, smoky bacon, and savory cheese. If you’ve never enjoyed this flavor combination, be ready to be smitten!
- Perfect for Picnics and Potlucks: This easy chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is cool, hearty, and perfect for a crowd, making it one of my favorite dishes for summer get-togethers.
- Great for lunches: Since this pasta salad is enjoyed cold, it's a great option for sending in lunches. My husband has requested this one more than once!
Let’s Get Started! Here’s What You’ll Need:
Ingredients
Pasta - A small pasta shape, like cavatappi, is best because it holds the ranch dressing well. You can also use other small-shaped pasta, like penne or rotini.
Bacon - Choose cooked bacon for convenience, though you can also fry or bake it fresh for this recipe. You will need 3 ounces of cooked bacon, or about 8 pieces.
Chicken Breast - You will need 8 ounces (or about 2 small) cooked chicken breasts. Use premade or leftover chicken breast, or shred rotisserie chicken for a twist on this bacon chicken ranch pasta recipe!
Cheddar Cheese - I recommend a solid block of cheese so you can cut it into cubes, though you can use shredded if you have it on hand. You can use mild, sharp, or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, depending on your preference.
Ranch Dressing - Use your favorite dressing brand, as it is a central ingredient of this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad recipe! You can even use buttermilk, avocado, or spicy ranch dressing if you'd like.
Green Onions - Also known as scallions, these add a light, peppery flavor and a touch of green. Wash them well before slicing, and only use the green parts.
Salt & Oil - Use sea or kosher salt to salt the pasta water. You will also need 1 teaspoon of olive or canola oil to keep the pasta from sticking while it chills.
Equipment:
Cutting Board and Knife - For slicing the cheese, bacon, chicken, and green onions.
Large Pot - A small stockpot, Dutch oven, or large saucepan are all great picks. You'll also need a colander for draining the pasta.
Spatula - Use this to stir the pasta and combine it with the dressing and chicken ranch pasta salad ingredients.
Measuring Cup - For measuring the ranch dressing.
Food Scale - An optional ingredient you can use to measure the chicken, bacon, and cheese by weight.
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Cook Pasta.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta in a colander. While the pasta drains, rinse the pot with cold water to cool it off. Return the drained pasta to the pot and toss it with 1 teaspoon of oil until covered.
Let the cooked pasta cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator until room temperature or cooler. Be careful not to set a warm pot on a cold glass fridge shelf- either transfer it to another bowl or use a potholder.
Prepare Cheese.
Dice the cheese into small chunks, about ½” thick and wide.
Prepare Chicken and Bacon.
Dice the bacon and chicken into bite-sized pieces, about ½-inch square.
Prepare Green Onions.
Slice the green portions of the green onions into small pieces.
Assemble
In either the initial pasta pot or a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cheddar, bacon, chicken, and ranch and stir the chicken bacon pasta salad until well combined. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Recipe Success Tips
- Salt the pasta water. The salty water seasons the pasta while adding minimal sodium to the dish. Add at least 1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water.
- Keep the pasta from sticking. Toss the pasta in 1 teaspoon of oil after draining for the easy pasta salad assembly.
- Optional: speed up pasta cooling. Save time by express-cooling the pasta. After draining, rinse it with cold water until cool to the touch. If you cool it completely while rinsing, you can skip the refrigeration cooling process.
- Season to taste. Once assembled, taste the chicken bacon ranch pasta salad and add additional ranch dressing, salt, and/or black pepper to taste.
- Make-ahead directions. For the freshest salad, prepare the pasta and other salad ingredients and store them separately in airtight containers for up to 1 day. Assemble the salad up to 1-2 hours before serving.
Recipe Variations and Mix-Ins
- Vegetables - Stir in any combination of up to 1 ½ cups of chopped cucumbers, red bell peppers, shredded carrots, or cherry tomatoes for freshness, crunch, or sweetness. You can also add minced red onion for a sweet, peppery bite.
- Proteins - Have leftover roast turkey? Swap it for the chicken for a turkey ranch and bacon pasta salad.
- Dressing - Try your favorite ranch dressing variation, such as buttermilk, spicy, avocado, or southwest.
- Pasta - Add whole grains and extra nutrition using whole wheat pasta. Amp up the protein and make the chicken bacon pasta salad gluten-free using garbanzo bean pasta.
Serving Suggestions
This bacon ranch pasta salad recipe makes a hearty and satisfying main dish. Serve it with a side salad or any of the following side dishes for a complete meal:
- Air Fryer Roasted Tomatoes
- Air Fryer Canned Green Beans
- Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
- Air Fryer Broccoli with Cheese Sauce
Storage Directions
Leftover bacon ranch chicken pasta salad keeps covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If needed, you can add a splash of milk to the salad before serving to help reconstitute the ranch dressing. I do not recommend freezing the salad.
More Chicken Bacon Ranch Recipes
Enjoy!
I hope this becomes your new favorite cold pasta salad. Be sure to come back and rate it- I'd love to know what you made it for!
📖 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 colander
- 1 knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 spatula
- 1 measuring spoons and cups for ranch and oil
- 1 large bowl and lid optional, can use the cooking pot
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta cavatappi or other shorter pasta
- 1 teaspoon oil to prevent pasta from sticking
- 4 oz cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon
- 8 oz cooked chicken breast
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 ea green onions green portion only
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to box instructions. Drain and toss with oil to prevent sticking, then place in the fridge until room temperature or colder.
- Dice cheese into small chunks, about ½" thick and wide.
- Chop bacon and chicken into bite sized pieces. Slice green onions.
- Combine the cooled pasta with the cheddar, bacon, chicken, and ranch dressing and stir until well mixed. Garnish with green onions and enjoy!
Podcast
Notes
- Salt the pasta water. The salty water seasons the pasta while adding minimal sodium to the dish. Add at least 1 tablespoon of salt for every 2 quarts of water.
- Keep the pasta from sticking. Toss the pasta in 1 teaspoon of oil after draining for the easy pasta salad assembly.
- Optional: speed up pasta cooling. Save time by express-cooling the pasta. After draining, rinse it with cold water until cool to the touch. If you cool it completely while rinsing, you can skip the refrigeration cooling process.
- Season to taste. Once assembled, taste the chicken bacon ranch pasta salad and add additional ranch dressing, salt, and/or pepper to taste.
- Make-ahead directions. For the freshest salad, prepare the pasta and other salad ingredients and store them separately in airtight containers for up to 1 day. Assemble the salad up to 1-2 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. It is recommended to use your preferred calculator with the actual ingredients you use for optimal accuracy.
Leave a Reply