Description
This BBQ Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad is a creamy, smoky, and satisfying dish loaded with tender pasta, juicy BBQ chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies tossed in a tangy ranch dressing. It’s the perfect make-ahead recipe for potlucks, BBQs, and easy weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup corn (fresh, canned, or grilled)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or green onions
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Mix chicken: In a bowl, toss cooked chicken with BBQ sauce until fully coated.
- Combine base: In a large bowl, add cooled pasta, BBQ chicken, bacon, tomatoes, corn, cheddar cheese, and red onion.
- Add dressing: Pour in ranch dressing and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Season: Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions and serve cold.
Notes
For extra flavor, use grilled chicken and smoky BBQ sauce. You can also add avocado, pickles, or jalapeños for a fun twist. This salad is best served chilled and can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: bbq chicken pasta salad, ranch pasta salad, chicken bacon pasta salad, summer pasta salad, easy bbq salad