Description
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is your new favorite summer dish! It’s LOADED with so many fantastic ingredients, it’s hard to choose just one as a favorite – chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese and juicy tomatoes all tossed with bow tie pasta (or whichever pasta you’d like) in a creamy homemade ranch dressing. It’s flavor-packed and hearty enough to make a satisfying main dish or side dish for picnics and barbeques.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
FOR THE PASTA SALAD
- 8 oz pasta (macaroni, rotini, penne, shells)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 5 slices cooked bacon, chopped
- 5 oz grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, cubed
- 3 green onions, sliced
FOR THE DRESSING
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, milk, herbs, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add the lemon juice then whisk to combine.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the pasta with the dressing. Gently fold in the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, green onions, and cheddar cheese.
- Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken is an easy yet delicious option for this recipe, but grilled or baked chicken work great, too.
- Dried herbs can be used for dressing, but fresh herbs provide a more vibrant and brighter flavor. To use dried herbs, use ⅓ of the measurements for the fresh herbs.
- If you prefer, shredded cheese can be used in place of the cubed cheese.
- Reserve some of the ingredients and fresh herbs for the topping for presentation if you prefer.
- Pasta salad can be stored for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Give the pasta salad a stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 15
