Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Print)

A zesty cold pasta salad with buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for picnics and potlucks.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine the cooked shredded chicken with buffalo wing sauce. Toss thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, buffalo-coated chicken, diced celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and halved cherry tomatoes. Gently toss to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, sour cream, and lemon juice until the mixture reaches a smooth, consistent texture.
05 - Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture. Using a large spoon, gently toss all ingredients until thoroughly coated with dressing.
06 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to develop and meld together.
07 - Remove from refrigerator and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley before serving. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like your favorite buffalo wings but without the mess or the need to stand over a hot fryer.
  • You can make it hours ahead and it actually gets better as it sits in the fridge.
  • Every bite has a mix of creamy, spicy, and crisp textures that keep you coming back.
  • Its one of those recipes people always ask you to bring again.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta with cold water after draining or it will clump into a sticky brick while you prep everything else.
  • Dont add the blue cheese too early or it dissolves into the dressing and loses that nice crumbly texture.
  • If you make this the night before, hold back a little dressing to toss in before serving because pasta drinks it up in the fridge.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken and save yourself 20 minutes of cooking and cleaning.
  • Taste the buffalo sauce before you add it, some brands are way hotter than others and you can always add more.
  • Let the salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour if you have the time, the flavors get so much better.
  • If youre serving a crowd, double the recipe because people will go back for seconds without shame.
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