Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a flavorful and spicy dish combining tender shredded chicken tossed in buffalo wing sauce with rotini pasta, fresh crunchy vegetables, and a creamy ranch dressing. Perfectly balanced with cheese and a kick of heat, this cold pasta salad is an ideal choice for game days, potlucks, or a satisfying main course on warm days.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken (rotisserie or grilled)
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing)
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Coat Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce, stirring until the chicken is fully and evenly coated in the sauce.
- Combine Salad: Add the cooked pasta, diced celery, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, and cheese to the bowl with the buffalo chicken. Pour in the ranch dressing.
- Toss Ingredients: Toss all the ingredients together thoroughly until everything is well coated with the dressing and buffalo sauce.
- Season & Chill: Season the salad with salt and black pepper to taste. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
Notes
- For an extra spicy kick, drizzle additional buffalo sauce on top just before serving.
- Swap blue cheese with shredded cheddar for a milder cheese flavor.
- Use Greek yogurt-based ranch dressing for a lighter, healthier version.
- This salad makes a great dish to bring to potlucks and is perfect for game day gatherings.
