Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable version)

Zesty cold pasta salad combining tender buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing for easy entertaining.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
03 - 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup celery, finely diced
05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Dressing

08 - 3/4 cup ranch dressing
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside to cool.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss the cooked chicken with buffalo wing sauce until evenly coated throughout.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, buffalo chicken, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, and lemon juice until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
05 - Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
06 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and develop.
07 - Before serving, garnish with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It brings the satisfying heat of buffalo wings without the mess of bones and sauce everywhere.
  • You can make it a few hours ahead and it actually gets better as it sits in the fridge.
  • The crunch from the celery and peppers balances out the creamy ranch in a way that keeps you going back for more.
  • It works as a main dish or a side, and people always ask what makes it taste so good.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water right after draining or it will clump together into a sticky mess that no amount of dressing can fix.
  • Dont add the dressing while the pasta is still warm, it will soak up too much and turn the whole salad dry by the time you serve it.
  • If you want more heat, add extra buffalo sauce at the end instead of at the beginning so you can control the spice level without overpowering the ranch.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken and pre shredded cheese to cut your prep time in half without sacrificing flavor.
  • Taste the buffalo sauce before you toss the chicken in it, some brands are much hotter or saltier than others and you might need to adjust the amount.
  • If the salad looks dry after chilling, stir in a tablespoon or two of milk or extra ranch to loosen it up before serving.
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