Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combines pasta, chicken, and veggies with a delicious buffalo-ranch dressing.
The Best Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Buffalo sauce is a favorite in my home—it adds tons of flavor and keeps the ingredient list short.
It’s the star of some of my easiest recipes, like Buffalo Chicken Wraps, Buffalo Chicken Pasta, and Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
Today, I’m sharing another easy buffalo-sauce favorite: pasta salad!
Quick Tip
Salt Pasta Water: Adding salt gives the pasta more flavor while cooking.
Ingredients
- Rotini Pasta: Feel free to substitute with bowtie, penne, or a similarly sized pasta.
- Cooked Chicken: Your can use leftover baked chicken or a rotisserie chicken.
- Celery: Finely chop it so it mixes well with the other ingredients.
- Red Pepper: An orange or yellow pepper can also be used.
- Green Onions: Leave them out if you’re not a fan of onions, or use red onion.
- Carrots: Grate on the large holes to avoid big crunchy carrot bites in the salad.
- Salad Dressing: Make this first so it has time to rest and let the flavors blend.
Variations
Switch Things Up
- Spice level: Use more or less buffalo sauce depending on what you like.
- Veggies: Don’t like celery or carrots? Leave them out and use cucumbers or radishes.
- Cheese: Add bits of blue cheese or small cubes of mozzarella or cheddar.
- Protein: Swap the chicken for Air Fryer Chickpeas or bacon. Or leave it out.
Storage
Leftover Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- I like this salad best the same day it’s made, but it will stay good for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Stir well before serving, adding extra dressing if needed. Pasta will continue to absorb surrounding liquid, so if the salad seems dry, it might just need more dressing.
- Make it ahead: Prep the pasta and chop the veggies in advance. Just mix with the dressing right before serving to keep everything fresh.
Serve Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad With:
- Cornbread: Sweet cornbread balances the buffalo spice.
- Tropical Fruit Salad: Adds a fresh, sweet contrast.
- Cucumber Salad: Light and refreshing to offset the creamy, spicy flavors.
- BBQ Ribs or Steak: Great if you want to add more protein.
- Sweet Potato Fries: Baked or fried, they match the buffalo chicken vibe.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is the perfect mix of spicy, creamy, and refreshing! Tender pasta, juicy chicken, and crisp veggies get tossed in a bold buffalo-ranch dressing for a dish that’s packed with flavor.
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 (16-ounce) package rotini pasta or similar pasta
- 3 cups cooked chicken chopped small
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery 1 stalk
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 3/4 cup green onions thinly sliced
- 1 cup grated carrot grate on large holes of cheese grater
Dressing
- 3/4 cup buffalo sauce see note 1
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing see note 2
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine dressing ingredients. Whisk until combined. Place in the fridge to chill while preparing the rest of the salad.
- Bring a large pot of 12 cups water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add 1 tbsp salt, then pasta. Boil to package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water (no longer than 20 seconds). Set aside to fully cool.
- Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add the chicken and prepared veggies. Stir in the dressing to preference (I add it all!) and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Frank’s® RedHot Wings Buffalo Sauce is my favorite in this salad. Be sure to use the one labeled “buffalo,” not the cayenne pepper sauce!
Note 2: This ranch is my favorite in this recipe. Not into store-bought dressings? Try my favorite Ranch Dressing Recipe.
Storage: Best enjoyed the day it is made. For advance prep, store components separately and assemble before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 46.6g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18.8g | Cholesterol: 40.7mg | Sodium: 500.8mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 3.8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wooh where do I begin! This is one of my favorite things Chelsea’s made and that’s saying something because I’m her brother in law who lives down the street and has tried a lot of her recipes! I’m a big Buffalo fan and the flavors here are insane! Try it!