This creamy chicken ranch pasta salad will be the the star of your next BBQ, picnic or outdoor gathering! It’s so delicious and easy to make. Loaded with shredded chicken and tossed in a creamy ranch dressing, this pasta salad is the perfect blend of fresh, savory and bright. It is bursting with flavor and packed with protein and fresh veggies! Whether you’re whipping up a quick lunch, meal prep or planning a spread for Memorial Day, 4th of July or Labor Day, this crowd-pleasing pasta salad is guaranteed to be a hit. It’s hearty enough to be a main dish at a summer potluck, but also light and refreshing for a side. With a few shortcuts, this pasta salad can also be thrown together in about 20 minutes! If you are looking for additional summer holiday recipes, be sure to try my summer sausage cobb salad, summer sausage kabobs and burger bowls.
Why You’ll Love This Pasta Salad
It’s so creamy and delicious!
This pasta salad is packed with fresh veggies.
This recipe is perfect for BBQs, parties or lunch prep.
It is kid-friendly!
This pasta salad is super adaptable and easily made gluten free and dairy free.
It contains protein from both the chicken and turkey bacon.
This dish is guaranteed to be a hit!
Equipment Needed
All you need to make this chicken ranch pasta salad is a baking dish, large bowl, cutting board and a knife.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken: If you are making your own shredded chicken for this recipe, you will need chicken breasts. I love ordering my meat from ButcherBox because it is convenient and I know it will be the highest quality. You can also use a rotisserie chicken here to make the process quicker.
Bacon: I used ButcherBox turkey bacon, but feel free to use regular bacon if you desire!
Seasoning: I used garlic powder and salt to season the chicken before baking it. My favorite is Redmond’s Real Salt because it is high-quality and made with zero fillers. If you use my discount code LESSWITHLAUR you can get 15% off Redmond’s website.
Oil: I used avocado oil on the chicken before baking it. I really like the Chosen Foods avocado oil. If needed, use olive oil or any other oil you have on hand! I love ordering gluten free staples like oil from Thrive Market because they have great prices and they deliver right to your doorstep. If you use my link, you can get 40% off your first order.
Pasta: I used gluten free pasta in this recipe because I am gluten free. Regular pasta works just as well here!
Vegetables: I used red onion, green onion and tomatoes in this chicken ranch pasta salad.
Ranch: You can use any ranch you love here or make your own homemade ranch. If you are looking for a dairy free ranch, try out my dairy free ranch dressing!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Gather your ingredients. If you are making your own shredded chicken, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2: Add chicken breasts to a baking dish with garlic powder, salt and oil. Bake for 35 minutes or until done.
Step 3: Cook pasta according to instructions on box.
Step 4: While pasta is cooking, cook turkey bacon in a pan over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side, or until crispy.
Step 5: Finely chop vegetables and turkey bacon.
Step 6: Shred chicken.
Step 7: Combine pasta, chicken, turkey bacon and vegetables.
Step 8: Pour ranch over the top and mix.
Pro Tips
Use rotisserie chicken to whip up this pasta salad quickly!
If you are using gluten free pasta, rinse it with cold water before adding it to your pasta salad to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
Storage
Store this chicken ranch pasta salad in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an airtight container. This recipe is great for meal prep for either lunch or dinner!
Transporting the pasta salad to a potluck or picnic? Pack it in an insulated container with ice packs to maintain its coolness.
How to Serve
This is the most straightforward way. Place the chilled pasta salad in a large serving bowl and bring it to your potluck or BBQ. Guests can serve themselves with utensils.
Add a pop of color and freshness with chopped tomatoes, fresh dill or crumbled cheese (vegan if needed) on top of each serving.
This chicken ranch pasta salad can also be made for lunch or dinner meal prep!
Variations
Pasta: I used gluten free pasta here because I am gluten free. Feel free to use regular pasta or even a protein pasta to add additional protein to this recipe! Get creative with different pasta shapes.
Ranch: I used dairy free ranch because I am dairy free, but feel free to use regular ranch. If you are dairy free, check out my dairy free ranch dressing or use store bought ranch. You can also switch it up by trying out caesar dressing or a vinaigrette.
Chicken: If you are looking for a hack to make this pasta salad quickly, use a rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts. If you are cooking the chicken, feel free to shred it or also chop it into cubes.
Bacon: I used turkey bacon in this pasta salad but you can also use regular bacon or omit it!
Vegetables: I used red onion, green onion and tomatoes in this pasta salad. Try adding cucumber, corn, celery or bell pepper to change it up!
Flavor: Add some buffalo sauce or hot sauce for some spice!
Recipe FAQ
Can you freeze this recipe?
You can freeze pasta salad but keep in mind that it will change the texture. I also recommend freezing it separate from the dressing.
Can I make this vegan?
This recipe can be made vegan by omitting the bacon, chicken and using a vegan ranch dressing. However, this will also omit the protein from the recipe.
Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?
Yes! Using rotisserie chicken is a great hack for whipping up this pasta salad quickly!
Can I make this recipe gluten free?
Yes! Use gluten free pasta to make this pasta salad gluten free. To keep the noodles from sticking together, rinse them before adding them to the pasta salad.
Can this pasta salad be made dairy free?
Yes! Use dairy free ranch to make this pasta salad dairy free.
Can I make this low histamine?
Yes, this recipe can be made lower histamine by omitting the tomatoes and using a histamine-friendly ranch dressing like this low histamine ranch.
Related Recipes
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If you make this chicken ranch pasta salad and love it, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me on Instagram or Tik Tok.
Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 baking dish
- 1 bowl
- 1 cutting board
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 1 box pasta (gluten free if needed)
- 1 lb chicken breasts (or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- dash salt
- 5 pieces turkey bacon
- 1/2 red onion
- 2 tbsp green onions
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 bottle ranch dressing
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. If you are making your own shredded chicken, preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Add chicken breasts to a baking dish with garlic powder, salt and oil. Bake for 35 minutes or until done.
- Cook pasta according to instructions on box.
- While pasta is cooking, cook turkey bacon in a pan over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side, or until crispy.
- Finely chop vegetables and turkey bacon.
- Shred chicken.
- Combine pasta, chicken, turkey bacon and vegetables.
- Pour ranch over the top and mix.
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