Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Zesty cold pasta salad featuring buffalo chicken, crunchy vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing for any gathering.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
03 - 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup celery, finely diced
05 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Dressing

08 - 3/4 cup ranch dressing
09 - 1/4 cup sour cream
10 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Garnish

11 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley

# How-To:

01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss the cooked chicken with buffalo wing sauce until evenly coated.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, buffalo chicken, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, and lemon juice until smooth and well blended.
05 - Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
07 - Before serving, garnish with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It brings the bold flavor of buffalo wings without the mess or the need to turn on the oven.
  • The creamy ranch dressing cools the heat just enough to keep you coming back for more.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a while.
  • It works as a main dish or a hearty side, and travels beautifully to picnics and potlucks.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately after draining or it will clump together and absorb too much dressing before you even mix it.
  • Don't skip the chilling time, the salad tastes noticeably better after the flavors have had a chance to marry in the fridge.
  • Taste the buffalo sauce before tossing it with the chicken, some brands are much hotter than others and you might want to adjust the amount.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken to save time, and don't be afraid to use both white and dark meat for extra flavor.
  • Chop the celery and onion finely so they blend into every bite instead of standing out in big chunks.
  • Let the dressed salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour if you have the time, the flavors deepen and the whole dish comes together beautifully.
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