Description
A quick, spicy, and creamy pasta salad featuring shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch dressing. Ready in 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or game-day snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cooked chicken (about 10 oz), shredded or diced
- 8 ounces short pasta (rotini, penne, or elbow macaroni)
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce (about 4 fl oz)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing (about 4 fl oz)
- 1 cup celery, finely diced (about 1 large stalk)
- 3 green onions, sliced thin
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 4 oz), optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain pasta and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- While pasta cooks, dice celery, slice green onions, and shred or dice chicken if not already done. Chop fresh parsley.
- In a small bowl, combine buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Stir until smooth and well blended.
- Add chicken, celery, green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese (if using) to the pasta bowl.
- Pour buffalo-ranch dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently but thoroughly until evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley on top for garnish.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to let flavors meld before serving.
Notes
Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent mushiness. Adjust buffalo sauce amount to control spice level. For a lighter version, swap half the ranch dressing with Greek yogurt. Salad tastes better after resting in fridge for a few hours or overnight. Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator up to 3 days. Does not freeze well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 380
- Sodium: 720
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: buffalo chicken pasta salad, buffalo chicken salad, pasta salad with ranch, quick dinner, easy pasta salad, spicy pasta salad, game day recipe