Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad - A flavor-packed side dish that's a total crowd pleaser! | foxeslovelemons.com

Why youโ€™ll love this Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad

  • Enjoy thisย versatile dishย as a side at your next barbecue, or make it the star of your work week lunch by adding chicken.
  • You can adjust the heat level to suit your preferenceย by adding more or less buffalo sauce, so everyone can enjoy this delicious dish.

Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad - A flavor-packed side dish that's a total crowd pleaser! | foxeslovelemons.com

Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe ingredients

  • pastaย – the base of the ranch pasta salad. Iโ€™ve used rotini here, but any short shape that you like will work.
  • buffalo sauceย – this infuses the pasta with its signature buffalo taste. I use Frankโ€™s RedHot Original Hot Sauce (cayenne pepper sauce).
  • olive oilย – coats the pasta to add richness.
  • ranch seasoning mixย – this adds the herbs and spices that creates the classic ranch profile. I use a packet of Hidden Valley Original Ranch Seasoning, Salad Dressing and Recipe Mix.
  • celeryย – contributes a crunchy texture and subtle flavor.
  • carrotsย – provides sweetness and color.
  • bell pepperย – adds a crisp texture and mild, sweet flavor that complements the tanginess of the buffalo sauce.
  • chickenย – this is an optional addition for added protein. If you want to add chicken, I suggest about 2 cups of shredded or chopped cooked chicken. I would use a rotisserie chicken for this!

How to make Ranch Pasta Salad

  1. PASTA.ย Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, rinse it with cold water, then drain it again.
  2. DRESSING.ย In a large bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, olive oil and ranch mix.
  3. TOSS.ย Add the celery, carrots, green pepper and pasta to the bowl with the dressing and toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Variations for this Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad

  • AVOCADOย – add diced avocado for creaminess and texture.
  • CHEESEย – add crumbled blue cheese or feta to complement the buffalo flavor in this ranch pasta salad recipe.
  • CUCUMBERย – add a handful of diced cucumber for extra crunch.

Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe Home Chef Tips

  • Allow the chicken ranch pasta salad toย chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before servingย to allow the flavors to develop.
  • To make aย creamy dressing, use mayonnaise in place of the olive oil.

โ€ŒHow to serve Buffalo Pasta Salad

Buffalo pasta salad makes a delicious side dish for any occasion.ย Some of my favorite main dishes to serve it with are:

How to store Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad

Buffalo ranch pasta can be stored in anย airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir before serving.

โ€ŒBuffalo Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad FAQs

Should I rinse pasta for cold pasta salad?

Yes, rinsing pasta under cold water stops the cooking process and helps prevent the pasta from becoming mushy. It also removes excess starch, preventing the noodles from sticking together.

What is the best pasta shape for pasta salad?

The best shapes for pasta salad are short shapes with nooks and crannies to catch dressing. Rotini, penne, farfalle (bowtie) and fusilli are all excellent choices.

Why does my pasta salad get dry?

Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad - A flavor-packed side dish that's a total crowd pleaser! | foxeslovelemons.com

Buffalo Ranch Pasta

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauceย (cayenne pepper sauce)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix
  • 4 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.
  2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together buffalo sauce, olive oil and ranch mix.
  3. Add celery, carrots, green pepper and pasta to bowl with buffalo sauce mixture; toss to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Did you make this recipe?

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