Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is savory, smoky, zesty, crispy, and creamy. Full of protein and veggies, it’s a better-for-you comfort food we serve as a main course or side dish!
Being from the Midwest, we’re no strangers to pasta salad recipes. They’re a staple at every backyard barbecue and gathering right next to the broccoli salad. However, if we’re being honest, we’re not huge fans. Gasp! Don’t tell our families.
In our opinion, most versions are way too creamy and just leave us feeling weighed down and heavy. Not to mention, they’re typically loaded with saturated fats and sugar. Not this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad recipe, though!
With just a few swaps, we were able to lighten it up and infuse it with nutrients. Quick to make, it’s hearty and filling, and picky eaters don’t even realize it’s healthy-ish.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this bacon ranch pasta salad with chicken. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Pasta – We typically use gluten-free pasta, but any variety will work. We recommend using small or medium-sized shapes like elbows, rotini, or bow tie.
- Chicken – We prefer boneless, skinless chicken breast, but boneless, skinless chicken thighs also work.
- Veggies – Grape (or cherry) tomatoes and red onion add color, crunch, and a tangy taste.
- Bacon – Use thick-cut bacon. We prefer regular pork bacon, but turkey bacon also works well.
- Greek Yogurt – This replaces the mayonnaise in most recipes, reducing the amount of fat and increasing the protein content. For a dairy-free pasta salad, substitute we’ve tested dairy-free Greek yogurt, and it’s just as tasty.
- Ranch Seasoning – We use store-bought Ranch seasoning packets to keep things quick and easy. We find that homemade blends just don’t have quite the same taste.
How to Make Our Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Cook the protein. Dice the chicken, and cook it in a skillet over medium heat. Or, bake in the oven, ensuring it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, cook the bacon until crisp, and chop it into bite-sized pieces.
- Boil the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta just to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Combine. Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl, and gently toss to combine. Getcha some of that!
Possible Variations
- Chicken – Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken. Or, swap the chicken with tuna, grilled shrimp, or steak.
- Bacon – Feel free to use turkey bacon, if preferred
- Veggies – Add to or replace the tomatoes and onion with bell pepper, cucumber, corn, roasted broccoli, or sauteed zucchini.
- Mix-Ins – Add sliced avocado, cheddar cheese, feta cheese, or sunflower seed.
Storage
Chicken bacon ranch pasta salad tastes even better after a day or so, as the flavors have time to meld! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. Give the mixture a good stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 Large Skillet
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 Colander
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 24 ounces (1 ½ pounds) chicken breast
- 8 slices thick cut bacon
- 8 ounces pasta any shape, gluten-free if needed
- 10 ounces grape tomatoes halved
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 cup Greek yogurt plain
- 1 ranch seasoning packet
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Dice the chicken, and cook it in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Set aside.24 ounces (1 ½ pounds) chicken breast
- Cook the bacon: Cook the bacon until slightly crispy so it’s easy to chop. Let cool, then chop into small pieces.8 slices thick cut bacon
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.8 ounces pasta
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, chicken, tomatoes, onion, chopped bacon, yogurt, and ranch seasoning.10 ounces grape tomatoes, ½ red onion, 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 ranch seasoning packet
- Mix: Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Serve or portion: Serve immediately or portion into containers for meal prep.
Notes
Nutrition
More Meal Prep Recipes
Did you enjoy this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad recipe? We want to know! Leave a comment below, and tag us @getchasomeofthat in your recreations on Instagram. Your support means the world and allows us to continue to share our recipes with you!
This one is such a fun take on classic pasta salad! We love that it’s not overly “saucy”