Description
A creamy and flavorful Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad loaded with protein and fresh ingredients, perfect for a hearty meal or potluck dish. This easy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta recipe is quick to make and full of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 300 g chicken breast or tenderloins, diced
- 120 g romaine lettuce, shredded
- 120 g bacon, thick-cut, diced
- 250 g rotini or fusili pasta, high-protein or whole grain
- 100 g sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 30 g green onions, sliced
- 150 ml ranch dressing
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning or Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Salad Supreme seasoning (optional)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 50 g bakery-style croutons, chopped
Instructions
- Dice the bacon into small pieces. Heat a large pan over low heat. Cook the bacon gently for about 10–12 minutes until all the pieces are crisp. Remove the bacon and drain it on paper towels. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the drippings.
- Rub the diced chicken breast with olive oil and coat it with poultry seasoning. In the same pan with the reserved bacon drippings, sear the chicken over medium-low heat. Cook for about 3–4 minutes per side until it’s golden brown and fully cooked. Let it rest, then dice it into bite-sized pieces for your chicken bacon ranch pasta.
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini or fusili pasta according to package instructions, about 8 minutes, until al dente. Rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and drain it thoroughly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, diced chicken, crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions. Pour in most of the ranch dressing, saving a bit for later. Toss everything together until well coated to make this creamy chicken bacon ranch pasta.
- Sprinkle in the Salad Supreme seasoning and toss the mixture again. Taste and adjust seasoning or ranch dressing as desired.
- Just before serving, gently fold in the shredded romaine lettuce and chopped croutons. Drizzle with the reserved ranch dressing for extra creaminess and toss lightly one last time. This simple chicken bacon ranch dish is now ready.
Notes
- Feel free to add more vegetables like bell peppers or cherry tomatoes for extra freshness.
- This chicken bacon ranch pasta can be made ahead of time; just add the lettuce and croutons before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Cook bacon slowly to render the fat for added flavor without burning.
- Let the chicken rest after cooking for juiciness and easy dicing.
- Rinse pasta after cooking to stop the cooking process and improve texture.
- Mix up the veggies for extra crunch and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
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