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Crunchy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

A delightful pasta salad combining crispy bacon, tender chicken, and creamy ranch dressing, perfect for potlucks and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz rotini pasta
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
  • 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 stalk English cucumber or celery, chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1½ cups ranch dressing
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or American cheese
  • 6 strips cooked bacon, crumbled

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water.
  2. Prep the Ingredients: Chop the cucumbers, tomatoes, and parsley. If using raw chicken, season and cook until done, then dice.
  3. Crisp the Bacon: Cook bacon until crispy, drain, and crumble.
  4. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley.
  5. Add Seasoning: Sprinkle in salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, then mix.
  6. Dollop the Dressing: Pour ranch dressing and stir to coat evenly.
  7. Cheese and Bacon Time: Fold in cheese and crumbled bacon gently.
  8. Chill the Salad: Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

For added flavor, let the salad chill for a longer time. You can customize it with different dressings or additional vegetables.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, chicken salad, ranch dressing, bacon, summer, potluck