Description
Crack Chicken Pasta Salad is a flavorful and satisfying dish that melds tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy ranch dressing over a bed of perfectly cooked pasta. Ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, or quick weeknight meals, this salad offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes that everyone will love. With its effortless preparation and versatile serving options, it’s sure to impress your guests without requiring too much time in the kitchen. Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing meal that’s perfect any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb bow tie pasta or elbow macaroni
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 10 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
- 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (cubed)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook until golden brown and fully cooked, about 8 minutes per side. Let rest for 10 minutes before cutting into pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing. Toss until well combined; adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with additional green onions before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg