Discover a delectable summer pasta salad, the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad! Packed with flavorful diced chicken, crispy bacon, tender pasta, French Fried Onions, and creamy Ranch dressing. Ideal for BBQs, potlucks, summer gatherings, and picnics!
When the weather heats up, is there anything better than enjoying a cold pasta salad? I think not! My favorite part of pasta salads is how simple they are to make and how they can be prepared ahead of time! Just like my Easy Italian Pasta Salad, this recipe can be changed up to add your favorite veggies in and make it to fit any taste!
Whether you use a homemade creamy Ranch dressing (see recipe below), or keep it simple and use your favorite store bought dressing, this pasta salad will be a favorite with everyone!
Why You’ll Love this Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Easy to Make
- Can Prepare Ahead of Time
- Perfect for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, and more
- A great way to use up any leftover grilled meats (feel free to change it up from just chicken)
- Can be served warm OR cold
Ingredients needed for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions.
- Pasta– I use Rotini, any short pasta works
- Bacon– cooked/crumbled
- Ranch Dressing– store bought salad dressing or homemade works (see homemade recipe below), I typically use Buttermilk Ranch Dressing from my local grocery store
- Cheese– sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite, shredded
- French Fried Onions
- Chicken– cooked/diced, Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for this pasta
Variations and Add In’s to try
- Green Onions/Chives- these add a great color boost and freshness to the pasta salad
- Grape or Cherry Tomatoes- sliced
- Diced Red Onion
- Cucumbers- diced
- Black Olives
- Bell Peppers- diced
- Hard Boiled Eggs- check out this Instant Pot method
How to make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Boil water in a large pot and cook the Barilla Rotini until al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, cook chicken and sprinkle with desired seasonings. (I used garlic powder and about 2 tablespoon Ranch dressing)
- Once pasta is cooked, drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is no longer warm.
- Add pasta to a large bowl and combine with cooked chicken and crumbled bacon.
- Mix in the cheese and onions.
- Pour the Ranch dressing on top and toss to coat thoroughly.
- Place bowl in your refrigerator until ready to serve!!
Tips for Success
- To save on time, use Rotisserie chicken. Leftover meat from a previous meal works great too!
- Save time by using store-bought Ranch dressing (Hidden Valley is a great option). If making homemade, you can prepare the dressing up to 4 days in advance and use when needed.
- Save additional Ranch dressing once you’ve prepare this pasta salad as the noodles tend to absorb a bit of the dressing and you’ll want to add additional just before serving.
- Enjoy this cold pasta salad as a main meal or side dish. It fits any occasion! You can even serve this dish warm if desired!
- Short noodles such as Ziti, Penne, Rigatoni, or Rotini work best for this recipe because they hold onto the dressing a bit easier and are all the same size.
- Crispy Chicken Strips work great in this recipe too. Cook in the air fryer to save on time.
Storage
Leftovers should be covered in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing is not recommended for this pasta salad recipe due to the fact the textures will change and end up mushy.
How to make Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill weed
- Ground black pepper (to taste)
Whisk mayonnaise and buttermilk in a medium mixing bowl until smooth. Add parsley, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, dill, and pepper; whisk until blended together. Place in the refrigerator until flavors have melded, about 20 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I serve with this pasta salad?
Some great options serve with this would be Mexican Corn Casserole, Easy BBQ Baked Beans, Loaded Cornbread, or Chopped Caprese Salad.
Do I have to enjoy this cold or can I serve it warm?
I typically serve this chilled since its a Summer staple in my house, however, it can also be served warm!
How can I keep the pasta salad from getting dry?
Since pasta salad is known to get dry if serving later than when prepared, I recommend keeping some Ranch dressing aside and adding it to the dish just before serving. This will give it an added flavor boost and re-moisten the pasta.
Is cold pasta salad safe to eat?
Yes! As long as you have kept the pasta salad chilled in the refrigerator no longer than 3 days, this is safe to eat and everyone will enjoy!
What other Chicken Bacon Ranch recipes do you have since I love that flavor combination?
Some of our favorites are my Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders, Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole, and Instant Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole for those Instant Pot lovers!! So many great options, you can’t go wrong!
More Salad Recipes to try
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 1/2 lb bacon *cooked/crumbled
- 3/4 cup Ranch dressing
- 8 oz cheddar cheese *shredded
- 1 cup French Fried Onions
- 2 cups chicken *cooked/diced
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot and cook the Barilla Rotini until al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, cook chicken and sprinkle with desired seasonings. (I used garlic powder and about 2 tablespoon Ranch dressing)
- Once pasta is cooked, drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is no longer warm.
- Add pasta to a mixing bowl and combine with cooked chicken and crumbled bacon.
- Mix in the cheese and onions.
- Pour the Ranch dressing on top and toss to coat thoroughly.
- Place bowl in your refrigerator until ready to serve!!
Nutrition
