Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a flavorful and zesty dish perfect for a quick lunch or picnic. Featuring tender shredded chicken, crunchy celery and carrots, and a creamy dressing spiced with buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese, this salad combines classic buffalo wing flavors with the comforting texture of rotini pasta. It’s served chilled, making it refreshing and satisfying during warmer days.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta, cooked al dente and chilled
- 1 cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons buffalo wing sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot), more to taste
- 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing, buffalo wing sauce, and crumbled blue cheese until well combined. Taste and adjust the amount of hot sauce based on your preferred spice level.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked and chilled rotini pasta, shredded chicken breast, chopped celery, and shredded carrots thoroughly.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently yet thoroughly until every ingredient is evenly coated. Divide the salad into serving bowls and serve chilled for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a spicier salad, increase the buffalo wing sauce to taste.
- You can substitute blue cheese with feta or omit it for a milder flavor.
- Make sure the pasta is completely chilled to prevent sogginess.
- Use freshly cooked chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator to enhance flavors.
