Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a family favorite! It’s great for potlucks and barbecues, but also simple enough to make any night of the week.

Summer is around the corner, and that means BBQ season has started! Time to start thinking about the menu for gathering in the backyard with family and friends.

This pasta salad recipe is a great option as a side dish or main dish when in a pinch. It’s super easy to make, only needs about 10 minutes of prep time, and will impress almost anyone who tastes it.

The combination of buffalo chicken and pasta salad is addictive, creamy and delicious. If you aren’t into spicy food, then you can always add a little more ranch dressing to the mix. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Use rotisserie chicken meat instead of cooking your own chicken. It saves time, and it’s easier to find than cooked rotisserie chicken meat than cooked whole chickens at most grocery stores.
• Add a half cup of blue cheese dressing to the mix—it tastes amazing!
• If you’re not into spicy food, use mild buffalo sauce instead of hot buffalo sauce.
• This salad is best if prepared at least 1 hour in advance to allow all the flavors to come together. However, it can be served immediately if that’s your preference.
• If you are pressed for time and need something that’s ready to go at a moment’s notice, you can prepare this pasta salad the day before you need it. You’ll want to make sure that you keep it stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator until you’re ready to serve it so that the ingredients stay fresh.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients

1/2 pound grilled chicken, cooked and cubed
8oz cheddar cheese, cubed
2 cups ranch dressing
1/4 cup buffalo sauce
12oz cooked rotini pasta noodles
5 stalks celery, chopped
8oz cherry tomatoes

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside to allow to cool.

In a large bowl, add cooled noodles, cooked chicken, cheese, celery and tomatoes.

Add the buffalo sauce and ranch dressing to the pasta salad and toss to combine.

Cover and chill in fridge until ready to serve.

More Delicious Side Dishes for Cookouts

• Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
• Baked Mac and Cheese
• Berry Chicken Salad
• Chipotle Ranch Pasta Salad

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Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Yield: Serves 6-8

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a family favorite! It's great for potlucks and barbecues, but also simple enough to make any night of the week.

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Ingredients

• 1/2 pound grilled chicken, cooked and cubed
• 8oz cheddar cheese, cubed
• 2 cups ranch dressing
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
• 12oz cooked rotini pasta noodles
• 5 stalks celery, chopped
• 8oz cherry tomatoes

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside to allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, add cooled noodles, cooked chicken, cheese, celery and tomatoes.
3. In a small bowl, mix together buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Pour mixture over top of pasta salad and toss to combine.
4. Cover and chill in fridge until ready to serve.

Notes

Recipe Tips

• Use rotisserie chicken meat instead of cooking your own chicken. It saves time, and it's easier to find than cooked rotisserie chicken meat than cooked whole chickens at most grocery stores.
• Add a half cup of blue cheese dressing to the mix—it tastes amazing!
• If you're not into spicy food, use mild buffalo sauce instead of hot buffalo sauce.
• This salad is best if prepared at least 1 hour in advance to allow all the flavors to come together. However, it can be served immediately if that's your preference.
• If you are pressed for time and need something that's ready to go at a moment's notice, you can prepare this pasta salad the day before you need it. You'll want to make sure that you keep it stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator until you're ready to serve it so that the ingredients stay fresh.