Description
This Chicken Club Pasta Salad is a quick and delicious meal, blending tender cooked chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and cheddar cheese with pasta all tossed in creamy Ranch dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a side dish at gatherings, this salad offers a harmonious mix of textures and flavors that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta (rigatoni, shells, rotini, or penne)
- 12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups cooked and chopped chicken
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
Dressing
- 1 cup Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Prepare the Ingredients: While the pasta is cooking, fry the bacon until it’s crispy, then crumble it into small pieces. Chop the cooked chicken, halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the celery and green bell pepper into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta followed by the crumbled bacon, chopped chicken, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese cubes, celery, and green bell pepper. Pour the cup of Ranch dressing over these ingredients.
- Toss and Serve: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the Ranch dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. For optimal flavor, cover the salad and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use your favorite pasta shapes like rigatoni, rotini, shells, or penne for varied texture.
- For a lighter alternative, substitute Ranch dressing with a yogurt-based dressing.
- Cooked rotisserie chicken can be used to save time.
- Make sure to cool the pasta completely before mixing to prevent sogginess.
- This salad tastes even better after resting, so preparing it a few hours in advance is ideal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
