Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Zesty cold pasta salad featuring buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing. Ideal for gatherings and meal prep.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a medium bowl, toss the cooked chicken with buffalo wing sauce until evenly coated.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, buffalo chicken, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, sour cream, and lemon juice until smooth and well combined.
05 - Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
07 - Before serving, garnish with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes even better after sitting in the fridge, so you can make it hours ahead without stress.
  • The spicy kick wakes up your taste buds without overwhelming them, and the crunch from celery keeps every bite interesting.
  • Cleanup is minimal because everything goes into one big bowl at the end.
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water is not optional; skipping it makes the salad gummy and unappetizing.
  • If you add the dressing while the pasta is still warm, it will absorb too much and the salad will turn dry by the time you serve it.
  • Taste the buffalo sauce before tossing it with the chicken; some brands are much hotter than others and you can always add more later.
03 -
  • Dice the celery and onion small so they distribute evenly and do not dominate any single bite.
  • Use a pasta shape with ridges or curves; smooth noodles will not hold the dressing as well.
  • If you are making this for kids, toss half the chicken with buffalo sauce and leave the other half plain so everyone can enjoy it.
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