Description
Crack Chicken Pasta Salad is a creamy and delicious dish that brings together tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and tangy ranch dressing over perfectly cooked pasta. This versatile salad is not only quick to prepare but also makes for an excellent option for potlucks, picnics, or busy weeknight dinners. Packed with flavors and textures, it’s a crowd-pleaser that can be served as a main course or a delightful side.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb bow tie pasta or elbow macaroni
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 10 slices cooked bacon (crumbled)
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (cut into small cubes)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika, cooking until golden brown and fully cooked (about 8 minutes per side). Let rest before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine pasta with chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese cubes, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing in the bowl. Toss well to combine.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to enhance flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling/Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg