Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable format)

Tender buffalo chicken tossed with pasta, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing in a satisfying cold salad.

# List of ingredients:

→ 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 directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside to cool.
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 together.
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, so you can make it ahead without worry.
  • The crunch from celery and peppers keeps every bite interesting, never mushy or boring.
  • You get all the flavor of buffalo wings without the mess or the oven.
  • It works as a main dish or a side, and people always go back for seconds.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta with cold water immediately after draining or it will clump together and absorb too much dressing.
  • Don't skip the chilling time, the salad tastes flat and one dimensional if you serve it right away.
  • If you make it the night before, hold back half the dressing and toss it in just before serving so it stays creamy.
03 -
  • Dice the celery and onion small so every forkful has a little bit of everything without big crunchy surprises.
  • Toss the pasta with a tiny drizzle of olive oil after rinsing to prevent sticking if you're not dressing it right away.
  • Taste the buffalo chicken before mixing it in, you want it bold enough to stand out against the creamy dressing.
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