Description
This Chicken Club Pasta Salad is a hearty, flavorful cold dish combining pasta, crispy bacon, tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick lunch, it offers a delicious blend of textures and flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Pasta
8 ounces uncooked pasta (rigatoni, shells, rotini, or penne)Meat & Dairy
12 slices cooked bacon, crumbled2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2-inch cubes
Vegetables
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved2 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
Other
1 cup Ranch dressingInstructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool down.
- Prepare the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, chopped chicken, cherry tomatoes, cubed cheese, chopped celery, and chopped green bell pepper.
- Add the dressing: Pour the ranch dressing over the ingredients in the bowl. Toss everything together well until all components are evenly coated and combined.
- Serve or chill: Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours for best flavor. Toss again before serving if necessary.
Notes
- Salt your pasta water generously to flavor the noodles, aiming for a salinity similar to the sea.
- Cook the pasta al dente; don’t overcook to prevent mushiness in the salad.
- Always rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking to cool it down quickly and prevent sticking or over-softening.
- Since the ingredients already contain salt, avoid adding extra salt to the salad itself.
- This salad tastes even better the next day and should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Not suitable for freezing as the texture of the ingredients may be compromised.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 grams
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 grams
- Saturated Fat: 9 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 45 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 25 grams
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
