Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad: Spicy, Creamy, and Delicious!
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a vibrant medley of flavors, combining tender pasta with spicy buffalo chicken for a delightful twist on traditional pasta salad. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners, it’s a showstopper that everyone will love!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) rotini or penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast (can use rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup celery, diced (about 2–3 stalks)
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional, for garnish)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by boiling a large pot of salted water over high heat. Once boiling, add the rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on it and taste for doneness to avoid overcooking!
- While the pasta cooks, prepare the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until fully combined. Set aside, but taste it to adjust the heat level if needed.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it in a colander and rinse under cold water for about 30 seconds. This helps stop the cooking process and cools the pasta down, ensuring it doesn’t become mushy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded chicken, cherry tomatoes, celery, red onion, and shredded carrots. Use a spatula to gently fold the ingredients together, being careful not to mush the tomatoes.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated, making sure every bite has a bit of that zesty dressing. If it seems dry, add a little more ranch or buffalo sauce.
- For a finishing touch, sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and chopped parsley on top. This adds a lovely presentation and extra flavor. Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: For the best flavor, consider marinating the shredded chicken in buffalo sauce for at least 30 minutes before mixing it into the salad. If you're making this for a crowd, double the dressing to ensure everyone can enjoy their preferred level of tanginess and heat.