Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a game changer for both pasta salad and Buffalo chicken lovers! An irresistible Buffalo ranch dressing coats tender chicken, pasta, carrots and celery. It's one of the most fun and unique pasta salads!
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
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We are not shy on Buffalo chicken recipes here! We have a growing list of Buffalo chicken recipes, everything from Garlic Bread, to a Pull Apart Quesadilla Ring, and even Buffalo Chicken Twice Baked Potatoes. So of course we had to make a game changing Buffalo chicken pasta salad!
Salads are healthy, right? Now we have a healthier way to enjoy wing night! This pasta salad is perfect for entertaining, easy weeknight meals, and meal prep lunches.
What is Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Our Buffalo chicken pasta salad is one of our top fan favorite recipes! Tender buffalo chicken is combined in a pasta salad with carrots, celery, and an irresistible Buffalo ranch dressing. Cue the ranch vs blue cheese debates! We are huge fans of ranch but you can of course swap the ranch dressing for a blue cheese dressing instead! For our game day parties we like to make two bowls of this salad - one with ranch, and one with blue cheese, and let our guests debate which is better.
More Fun Sides
- Feta Bruschetta
- Olive Garden Salad Copycat
- Olive Garden Breadsticks
- Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Garlic Bread
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Crazy Bread Copycat
Ingredients
- Pasta - we love using a twirly pasta such as fusilli for creamy pasta salads as the rich dressing gets soaked up in the twirls! You can also use any small pasta you have on hand such as penne, macaroni or bow-tie.
- Green Onions - adds a fresh pop of color and a great onion flavor.
- Chicken - you can use homemade buffalo chicken or a shredded rotisserie chicken is a great option too!
- Celery and Carrot - the two most common sides served with Buffalo wings are the perfect crunchy additions to this salad.
- Hot Sauce - used to marinate the chicken.
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing - we are huge ranch fans with our Buffalo chicken. You can use ranch or blue cheese!
- Greek Yogurt - used to marinate the chicken to keep it moist. Greek yogurt is also part of the salad dressing which is a healthier and lighter option than mayonnaise. You can swap for mayonnaise in the salad dressing if you prefer.
- Garlic Powder - to marinate the chicken.
- Buffalo Sauce - the key ingredient to give the salad dressing its Buffalo flavor!
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Full Printable Recipe at Bottom of page
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to the packaging for al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse lightly with cold water. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium sized bowl add the diced chicken breast, plain Greek yogurt, hot sauce, and garlic powder. Stir until evenly combined.
- In a medium sized frying pan add a splash of cooking oil or cooking spray. Add the chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through (temperature of 165℉). Set aside to cool down while you prepare the pasta salad.
- In a large bowl add the cooked and cooled pasta, celery, carrots, green onion, plain Greek Yogurt, Buffalo sauce, and Ranch Dressing. Toss until evenly combined.
- Add the cooled chicken to the bowl and mix until evenly combined.
- You can serve the salad immediately but it is best after chilling in the fridge for about 30 minutes - 1 hour for the flavors to develop. Just before serving stir the salad again and season to taste with additional Buffalo sauce or Ranch dressing as desired, the pasta will absorb some of the spiciness while it chills.
- Garnish with additional sliced green onions, serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Pasta Salad
- Mix-In's - the fun thing about pasta salads is that you can customize the mix-in's. Don't like celery? Swap for cucumbers or any other veggie you prefer! Don't like carrots? Swap for thinly sliced bell peppers. The possibilities are endless! You can also swap the Ranch dressing for Blue Cheese dressing instead.
- Dressing - it is important to let the pasta salad absorb the flavors of the dressing. It's best to prepare the salad at least 30 minutes - 1 hour in advance to allow the flavors to develop. You can also prepare the salad 1 day in advance.
- Pasta - making pasta salads are fun because if you have half a bag of pasta left over in your pantry you can use it up for a salad! Any shape of pasta works for this salad. We like a twirly pasta (ex. fusilli) that soaks up the dressing. You can use any small shaped pasta you have, for example, macaroni, fusilli, penne, and more!
FAQ
Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta salad can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time. Add a splash of Ranch dressing and/or Buffalo sauce just before serving as the pasta will have absorbed the dressing overnight.
Yes! Prepping the salad in advance is a great idea to save on cooking time the day of serving and allow the flavors to develop overnight in the fridge. The pasta salad can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time. The pasta will absorb the dressing while chilling, just before serving you can stir in some additional Ranch dressing and/or Buffalo sauce for your desired spice level.
Swap the chicken for a plant based chicken alternative or plant based ground chicken alterantive.
Use gluten free pasta of choice and ensure the Buffalo sauce used is gluten free.
More Easy Pasta Dinners
- Louisiana Chicken Pasta (Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
Enjoy!
- Sab
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 ½ lb chicken breast (boneless and skinless, cut into small bite sized pieces)
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
Salad
- 1 ½ cups fusilli pasta (uncooked, or pasts of choice, penne, bow-tie, macaroni)
- 1 cup celery (finely diced)
- 1 cup carrots (shredded)
- ⅓ cup green onion (chopped)
Dressing
- 3 tablespoon plain Greek Yogurt (or mayonnaise)
- 2 tablespoon Buffalo sauce
- ½ cup Ranch Dressing (or blue cheese dressing)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the 1 ½ cups fusilli pasta and cook according to the packaging for al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse lightly with cold water. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium sized bowl add the diced 1 ½ lb chicken breast, 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoon hot sauce, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Stir until evenly combined.
- In a medium sized frying pan add a splash of cooking oil or cooking spray. Add the chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through (temperature of 165℉). Set aside to cool down while you prepare the pasta salad.
- In a large bowl add the cooked and cooled pasta, 1 cup celery, 1 cup carrots, ⅓ cup green onion, 3 tablespoon plain Greek Yogurt, 2 tablespoon Buffalo sauce, and ½ cup Ranch Dressing. Toss until evenly combined.
- Add the cooled chicken to the bowl and mix until evenly combined.
- You can serve the salad immediately but it is best after chilling in the fridge for about 30 minutes - 1 hour for the flavors to develop. Just before serving stir the salad again and season to taste with additional Buffalo sauce or Ranch dressing as desired, the pasta will absorb some of the spiciness while it chills.
- Garnish with additional sliced green onions, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Tony says
Super easy to make and love the healthier dressing! This will be on repeat. Thanks 🙂