Description
Crack Chicken Pasta Salad is the ultimate comfort dish that seamlessly combines tender shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and zesty ranch dressing over a delightful bed of al dente pasta. This crowd-pleaser is perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or quick dinners at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb bow tie pasta or elbow macaroni
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 10 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, cubed
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup green onions
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika; cook for about 8 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Let rest before cutting into pieces.
- Add chicken, crumbled bacon, cheese cubes, green onions, halved cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing to the pasta. Toss gently to combine; season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 95mg