Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a zesty and satisfying dish perfect for picnics or quick weeknight meals. Tender rotini or penne pasta, shredded chicken, crunchy celery, and juicy cherry tomatoes are coated in a creamy blend of buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, and sour cream. Topped with cheddar cheese and optional green onions or parsley, this salad is a flavorful twist on traditional pasta salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken (can use rotisserie)
- 8 ounces rotini or penne pasta
Dressing:
- ¾ cup buffalo wing sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- ½ cup sour cream
Add-Ins:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 celery stalks (diced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ cup red onion (finely chopped)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta according to package instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and sour cream until smooth.
- Combine ingredients: Add pasta, shredded chicken, celery, tomatoes, red onion, and cheddar cheese to the bowl. Toss to coat with the dressing.
- Season and chill: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with green onions or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Adjust buffalo sauce to suit your spice preference.
- Substitute blue cheese dressing or add crumbled blue cheese for extra flavor.
- Great for meal prep and picnics.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
