Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Description
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad offers a hearty blend of textures and bold flavors. The cooked rotini pasta serves as a tender base, combined with shredded cooked chicken and crunchy red bell pepper. The dressing combines spicy buffalo sauce with creamy ranch and mayonnaise, flavored with garlic powder and black pepper, producing a tangy and mildly spicy coating.
Mixing the dressing into warm pasta helps the shredded mozzarella cheese soften and partially melt, adding a smooth, cheesy element throughout. The green onions sprinkled on top provide a fresh, mild onion flavor to balance the richness.
This salad works well as a main dish or a side, adaptable to serving warm or chilled depending on preference. Refrigeration before serving allows flavors to blend and the salad to firm up slightly.
Serve warm to enjoy melted mozzarella or chill for a firmer texture.Celery can be added for extra crunch and a refreshing note.Adjust buffalo sauce amount to control spiciness.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 ½ cups chicken cooked shredded
- ⅓ cup red bell pepper diced
- ⅓ cup celery optional, diced
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons green onion sliced
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add chicken breast and red pepper and stir to combine.
- In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and black pepper to make a sauce.
- Pour sauce over pasta mixture and stir until well combined.
- Stir in mozzarella cheese (it is best to add this while the pasta is still warm so that the cheese mostly melts).
- Top with chives and serve*
Notes
- Serve warm to enjoy melted mozzarella or chill for a firmer texture.
- Celery can be added for extra crunch and a refreshing note.
- Adjust buffalo sauce amount to control spiciness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 285 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 285 | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 37mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 812mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 168mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 315IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 8.6mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 86mg | 9% |
| Iron | 0.7mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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