Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

A zesty cold pasta dish with tender buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing. Ideal for gatherings.

# 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, optional
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water, and reserve.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine cooked chicken with buffalo wing sauce and toss until evenly coated.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine 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 fully combined.
05 - Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without breaking components.
06 - Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop and meld.
07 - Top with crumbled blue cheese and fresh chives or parsley immediately before serving.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • It tastes better the longer it sits, so you can make it ahead without worry.
  • The creamy ranch cools down the buffalo heat just enough to keep you going back for more.
  • Every bite has crunch, tang, and satisfying protein all in one forkful.
  • It travels beautifully and never gets soggy or sad looking.
02 -
  • Always rinse your pasta under cold water after draining or it will clump together and absorb too much dressing while its still warm.
  • Add the buffalo sauce to the chicken separately before mixing it into the salad, this way the heat is evenly distributed and doesnt make the dressing runny.
  • Let it chill for at least 30 minutes, the flavors need time to settle and the pasta needs to soak up the dressing.
03 -
  • Use rotisserie chicken to save time and add extra flavor, the seasoned skin bits mixed in are a bonus.
  • Dice your celery and onion small so every bite has a little crunch without overwhelming the pasta.
  • Taste the salad after it chills and adjust the buffalo sauce or ranch if needed, flavors mellow as they sit.
Go Back