Description
Crack Chicken Pasta Salad is a delightful and satisfying dish that brings together tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and creamy ranch dressing on a bed of perfectly cooked pasta. Ideal for potlucks, picnics, or family dinners, this versatile salad can be served warm or chilled, making it a fantastic option for any meal plan. Its rich flavors and hearty textures guarantee that everyone will be coming back for more!
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 (cubed)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup green onions
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, and paprika for seasoning
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika; cook until golden brown and fully cooked (about 8 minutes per side). Let rest before cutting into pieces.
- Combine the cooked chicken with the pasta in the bowl. Add crumbled bacon, cheese cubes, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing; mix until well combined.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate to chill before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling and Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg