Description
A creamy, flavor-packed pasta salad made with juicy chicken, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar, and fresh veggies—all tossed in a tangy ranch dressing. Perfect for BBQs, meal prep, or a satisfying cold dinner. It’s everything you love about ranch and bacon in one bowl, with pasta to tie it all together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, chopped
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups ranch dressing (homemade or bottled)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy, then crumble and set aside.
- Cook or shred chicken. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, chicken, bacon, cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, and parsley.
- Add ranch dressing and gently toss to combine.
- Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish with extra bacon or parsley before serving.
Notes
-
For a lighter version, use Greek yogurt ranch dressing.
-
Keep extra dressing on hand to refresh leftovers.
-
Add-ins like peas, olives, or spicy jalapeños can customize the salad to your taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15minutes
- Category: Main or side
- Method: Boiling, Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 435