Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Zesty cold pasta dish featuring spiced chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing. Ideal for gatherings and meal prep.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
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.
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, top with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes even better after sitting in the fridge, making it the rare dish that rewards you for prepping ahead.
  • The crunch of celery and peppers balances the creamy dressing in a way that keeps each bite interesting.
  • You can adjust the heat level easily, so it works for kids and spice lovers at the same table.
  • It uses rotisserie chicken, which means dinner can happen without turning on the stove.
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water is not optional, or it will keep cooking and turn gummy by the time you serve it.
  • If you skip the chilling step, the dressing will taste thin and the flavors will not come together the way they should.
  • Add the blue cheese at the end, not during mixing, or it will dissolve into the dressing and lose its texture.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken and skip the cooking step entirely, which cuts your prep time in half without sacrificing flavor.
  • Swap Greek yogurt for sour cream if you want a lighter version that still has plenty of tang and creaminess.
  • Toss in some diced avocado right before serving for extra richness, but only if you are eating it immediately or it will turn brown.
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