Description
A spicy and creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combining tender pasta, flavorful buffalo chicken, crunchy veggies, and tangy dressing, perfect for potlucks, summer meals, or a satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
- 1/2 cup celery (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup carrots (shredded or finely diced)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup red onion (finely diced)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese or crumbled blue cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Chopped green onions or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
- Prepare Dressing Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the buffalo wing sauce with ranch or blue cheese dressing until well blended.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the cooked shredded or diced chicken to the buffalo dressing and toss until the chicken is evenly coated with the spicy mixture.
- Add Vegetables and Cheese: Stir in the cooled pasta, sliced celery, shredded carrots, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, and shredded or crumbled cheese. Mix everything thoroughly to combine.
- Season and Chill: Season the salad with salt and black pepper to your taste. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, garnish the salad with chopped green onions or fresh parsley for added freshness and color.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick and convenient protein option.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead and tastes even better after chilling.
