Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad with chicken, bacon, rotini, cheddar, vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing.
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Ingredients
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast chopped or shredded
- 12 slices bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber chopped
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley or green onions chopped (optional)
Ranch Dressing:
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 to 4 tablespoon milk as needed to thin
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions until tender.
- Drain the pasta. Rinse the pasta under cold water.
- Add the pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, cheddar cheese, red onion, and parsley or green onions.
- In a small bowl, add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir the dressing until smooth.
- Add 2 tablespoons milk. Stir until the dressing is creamy and pourable. Add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if the dressing is too thick.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Stir again before serving.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Cool the pasta well - Rinse the pasta with cold water after draining so it does not warm the dressing or soften the vegetables. Use crisp bacon - Crisp bacon holds its texture better after the salad chills. Chop the vegetables evenly - Smaller, even pieces make the pasta salad easier to mix and serve. Thin the dressing slowly - Add the milk a little at a time so the dressing does not become too runny.Storing
Refrigerate - Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving - Stir the pasta salad before serving because the dressing may settle as it chills. Do not freeze - This pasta salad does not freeze well because the dressing and fresh vegetables can change texture.Nutrition
Calories: 614kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 34gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 780mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 539IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 2mg
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