Description

This Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad is a delightful mix of flavors and textures. With tender pasta, savory chicken, crispy bacon, and a zesty ranch dressing, it makes for a perfect quick meal or a refreshing side at gatherings. Easy to prepare and simply delicious!

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups uncooked fusilli or rotini pasta
5 strips bacon cut into small pieces
1/2 medium red onion chopped
2 cups shredded cooked/rotisserie chicken
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes cut into halves
1/2 cup ranch dressing (use my recipe or bottled)
Fresh parsley chopped, to taste (optional)

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Instructions

If making ranch dressing from scratch, prepare it first and refrigerate until needed.
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package directions. Rinse under cool water and drain thoroughly afterward.
Cut the bacon into small pieces and cook until crispy; transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate.
In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped onion, chicken, tomatoes, and parsley. Add the cooked pasta and crispy bacon.
Toss everything with ranch dressing, starting with 1/2 cup. Add more dressing if desired and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve right away or chill before serving.

Notes

Feel free to add more vegetables such as bell peppers or cucumbers for extra crunch.
This salad can be made a few hours in advance; just toss with dressing just before serving to keep it fresh.
For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt instead of ranch dressing.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 430
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 900mg
Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: N/A
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 34g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 47mg