Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad

Pasta salad with chicken, bacon, cherry tomatoes, and green onion in a blue serving bowl.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Macaroni Salad

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Servings:

Calories: 412kcal

Author: Deanna

With tender chicken, smoky bacon, summer veggies, and cheddar cheese mixed with pasta and a creamy ranch dressing, this chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is always a hit.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

8 oz dry macaroni noodles
6 oz cheddar cheese shredded or cubed
1 bell pepper, any color diced
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
3 green onions sliced
6 slices bacon cooked and chopped
12 oz cooked chicken breast cubed or shredded (about 3 breasts)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 package (2 tbsp) ranch dressing mix

Instructions

Cook the macaroni according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
Place the cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl, then add the cheese, peppers, cherry tomatoes, green onions, bacon, and chicken.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and ranch dressing. Stir until well combined.
Add half of the prepared ranch dressing to the bowl and stir until well combined. Add a bit more dressing as needed to coat all of the ingredients.
Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until it's time to serve.

Notes

If you prefer, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of cooked chicken breast.

Any cheese may be used in place of cheddar.

If you like, you can use bottled ranch dressing instead of preparing your own.

Leftover pasta salad tends to dry out a bit when it's stored in the fridge. Reserve some of the ranch dressing and add it to the leftovers before serving to refresh it.

Nutrition