Description
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a flavorful, spicy twist on a classic pasta salad, combining tender chicken, pasta, crisp veggies, and a creamy buffalo sauce dressing. It’s a perfect side dish or light main for summer picnics, potlucks, or game day.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works well)
- 8 oz elbow macaroni or any short pasta, cooked and drained
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing for more flavor)
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shredded chicken, celery, red onion, and shredded carrots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and chicken mixture and toss to coat evenly. Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce depending on your preferred spice level.
- Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve cold.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, you can add a little more ranch or blue cheese dressing to your liking.
- If you prefer a milder version, reduce the amount of buffalo sauce or use a mild buffalo wing sauce.
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, or cherry tomatoes for added freshness and crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming chicken is cooked)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg