This chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is a creamy cold pasta salad made with tender pasta, chopped chicken, crispy bacon, fresh veggies, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing mix. It's easy to make, simple to chill, and works well as a side dish or a light meal.
This is the kind of chicken pasta salad that fits summer cookouts, Labor Day parties, potluck dinners, and meal prep. The creamy ranch dressing brings everything together, while the bacon and sharp cheddar cheese add plenty of flavor.
If you enjoy easy pasta salad recipes,, you may also like Tuna Pasta Salad or Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy cold pasta salad with simple ingredients
- Made with chicken, bacon, ranch, and cheddar cheese
- Great for potlucks, cookouts, and summer gatherings
- Can be made ahead for meal prep
- Works as a side dish or a full meal
Ingredients for Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- 1 (12-ounce) package tri-color rotini pasta, uncooked
- 1 cup chopped chicken, cooked
- 6 ounces bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 English cucumber, chopped
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 1 cup cubed sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 package dry ranch dressing mix
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
How to Make Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain well.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta, chopped chicken, crispy bacon, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cubed cheddar cheese.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, black pepper, and garlic powder until smooth.
- Pour the creamy ranch dressing over the pasta mixture.
- Toss until the pasta and salad ingredients are evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Stir before serving and add a little extra mayonnaise or sour cream if the pasta salad has thickened after chilling.
Tips for Best Results
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds up after chilling
- Rinse the pasta with cold water to cool it quickly
- Use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to make this recipe faster
- Cook the bacon until crisp so it keeps its texture in the salad
- Dice the red onions small so they blend well with the other ingredients
- Bell peppers or green onions can be added for extra crunch
Serving Suggestions
This chicken bacon ranch pasta salad works well as a side dish for cookouts, potlucks, and summer meals.
Serve it with grilled chicken, burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, or other simple cookout recipes. It can also be served as a full meal for lunch since it has pasta, chicken, bacon, cheese, and fresh veggies.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Stir before serving. If the pasta absorbs too much dressing, add a small spoonful of mayonnaise or sour cream to freshen it up.
More Recipes to Try
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📖 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package tri-color rotini pasta - uncooked
- 1 cup chicken - cooked and chopped
- 6 ounces bacon - cooked and chopped
- 1 English cucumber - chopped
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes - chopped
- ½ cup red onion - diced
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese - cubed
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 package dry ranch dressing mix
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water. Let drain well.
- Add cooked pasta, chicken, bacon, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and cheddar cheese to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Pour dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Stir before serving and add a little mayonnaise or sour cream if needed.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken works well in this recipe.
- Cook the pasta al dente so it holds up after chilling.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Add green onions or bell peppers for extra crunch.
- Stir before serving because the dressing may thicken as it chills.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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