Description
A delicious and creamy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad featuring spiral pasta, rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, sharp cheddar cheese, and a homemade copycat ranch dressing. Perfect for gatherings or meal prep with a refreshing and savory flavor combination.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta Salad
- 12 ounce pack spiral pasta (Wacky Pack Veggie Spiral Pack)
- 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 chopped tomato or a handful of cherry tomatoes chopped in half
- 6 pieces thick sliced bacon, diced and cooked well done
- 1 zucchini, shredded (about 2 cups)
Copycat Ranch Dressing
- 1 pack Ranch Dressing mix
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to cook the chicken if using raw chicken instead of rotisserie chicken.
- Prepare Ranch Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, buttermilk, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir well and set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Cook Chicken (Optional): If using raw chicken, season it with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and place in a baking dish. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest and then cut into small cubes.
- Cook Bacon: Cook diced thick sliced bacon over medium-low heat in a skillet until crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- Cook Pasta: Boil spiral pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Combine Ingredients: Add chopped rotisserie chicken (or cooked chicken cubes), shredded zucchini, chopped tomatoes, cooked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and prepared ranch dressing to the pasta. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the pasta salad for 1 to 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld and serve chilled.
Notes
- You can substitute rotisserie chicken with cooked diced chicken breast or thighs.
- For a lighter option, use low-fat mayonnaise and reduced-fat cheddar cheese.
- Bacon can be cooked in the oven on a foil-lined tray at 400°F for 15-20 minutes for less mess.
- If you prefer, add other fresh vegetables like bell peppers or cucumbers for extra crunch.
- This pasta salad is best served chilled but can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours safely.
- The recipe yields about 8 servings, perfect for potlucks or family dinners.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
