Name: Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 6–8 chicken strips of choice; 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded; 8 strips bacon, diced; 8 ounces dry rotini or fusilli pasta; 6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded; 1 cup tomatoes, diced; 1 cup plain Greek yogurt; 1 packet ranch seasoning; 2 tablespoons milk, if needed to thin dressing

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is an easy and filling recipe made with crispy chicken strips, bacon, rotini pasta, shredded romaine, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and a creamy Greek yogurt ranch dressing. Perfect for meal prep, lunch, or an easy dinner.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

20 minutes

Serves

6 servings 1x

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Ingredients

For the Pasta Salad

6–8 chicken strips of choice
1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
8 strips bacon, diced
8 ounces dry rotini or fusilli pasta
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup tomatoes, diced

For the Dressing

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 packet ranch seasoning
2 tablespoons milk, if needed to thin dressing

Method

Preheat the oven to the temperature listed on the package instructions for your chicken strips.
Bake the chicken strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet according to package instructions. Once cooked, let cool slightly, then cut into small pieces.
Cook the bacon by placing the diced bacon on a second parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy. Let cool.
Cook the pasta while the chicken and bacon are baking. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini or fusilli according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cool water, and drain well.
Make the dressing by stirring together the Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning in a small bowl. If needed, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
Prep the veggies by shredding the romaine and dicing the tomatoes.
Assemble the pasta salad in a large bowl. Add the cooked pasta, diced chicken, tomatoes, romaine, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
Add the dressing by pouring most of it over the salad, reserving a little for later if desired. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.

Notes

If meal prepping, keep the shredded romaine separate and add it just before serving so it stays crisp.
Reserve a little dressing to mix in later, as the pasta may absorb some of it in the fridge.
High-protein pasta or whole-grain pasta both work great in this recipe.
You can use any chicken strips you like, including breaded or grilled options.