Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad

This Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad recipe is packed with flavor, texture, and lots of goodness!

Loaded with chicken, pasta, bacon, and veggies this dish is tossed in an easy ranch mayo dressing for the perfect bite.

While our favorite Italian pasta salad is often served as a side, this hearty dish eats like a meal!

close up of plated Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

A Pasta Salad Entree

This pasta salad turns a favorite side dish into a main dish with lots of great additions like chicken!
Only 3 simple steps and 20 minutes of prep time.
Chicken pasta salad is an easy way to stretch leftover chicken breasts or leftover roast chicken!
Serve as a main dish or as a side (and it makes great lunches throughout the week).
Best served cold, it’s a refreshing dish on a hot summer day.

Dressing, cheddar, tomatoes, chicken, bacon, pasta, & green onions on a marble board to make Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad with labels

What Goes in Pasta Salad

When making a cold pasta salad you can add in as many or as few ingredients as you’d like.

Pasta – Use rigatoni, penne, shells, or rotini pasta. Really, any medium pasta shape will work.
Chicken – Leftover diced cooked chicken or shredded chicken is perfect in this recipe. You can also bake chicken breast or use rotisserie chicken.
Veggies – Opt for a variety of colors and textures to make this chicken pasta salad both pretty and flavorful. Try bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or avocado.
Flavor – Cubes of cheddar, green onions, bacon, and a quick and creamy dressing add lots of flavor.

adding ingredients together for Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad dressing

Chicken Pasta Salad Dressing

For the tastiest pasta salad dressing, we love the super quick homemade ranch-style dressing in the notes. It’s rich and creamy with lots of fresh herb flavor.

Creamy: mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk. Swap the sour cream for greek Yogurt to lighten it up a bit!

Flavorful: a packet of ranch dressing mix (or try homemade ranch seasoning) & fresh herbs.

To Make Dressing From Scratch

If you’d like to make the dressing from scratch, skip the ranch packet and add the following to the mayonnaise/sour cream mixture:

½ teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
1 ½ teaspoons each fresh dill and parsley
salt & pepper

ingredients to make Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad and dressing in bowls before mixing

Variations

Swap chicken for leftover turkey or ham.
Use your favorite cheeses like fresh mozzarella, pepper jack, or feta cheese.
Sprinkle with herbs such as fresh basil, parsley, and dill.
Other additions to try include sliced olives (black or green), a splash of lemon juice, or red onion

How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad

Chicken ranch pasta salad comes together quickly once the veggies are prepped and the cheese is shredded. Just follow these steps:

Cook the pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water.
Combine the salad ingredients and cooled pasta in a large bowl.
Add dressing and toss well to combine. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

Before serving, sprinkle with fresh chopped green onion and extra bacon and season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Dress Generously!

The pasta will soak up the dressing as it sits (adding more flavor throughout!). Be sure to dress the salad generously so it isn’t dry.

If needed, add a little bit of extra milk, mayonnaise, or sour cream before serving!

Storing Leftovers

Like most cold pasta salad recipes, this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad holds in the refrigerator for 3-4 days making it perfect for lunches.

This dish doesn’t freeze well.

Favorite Pasta Salad Recipes

Did you love this Chicken Pasta Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad in a bowl with spoons

4.91 from 22 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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This pasta salad is packed with flavor and color! Rotini pasta, diced chicken, and a homemade ranch dressing make this tasty side dish!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Author Holly Nilsson

Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water per the package directions. Drain well and run under cold water. Set aside.
Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Mix remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Toss with dressing.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with green onions and serve.

To Make the Dressing From Scratch: Skip the ranch packet and add the following to the mayonnaise/sour cream mixture:

½ teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder
1 ½ teaspoons each fresh dill and parsley (or ½ teaspoon each dried)
salt & pepper

To Cook Chicken Breasts for pasta salad, preheat the oven to 400°F. Rub the chicken with olive oil and season generously with salt & pepper (and a little Italian seasoning if you’d like). Bake for 22-26 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F. Cool and chop or shred.

4.91 from 22 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

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