Description
A delicious and refreshing creamy ranch chicken pasta salad, perfect for gatherings and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini pasta uncooked
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk plus more as needed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber halved and sliced
- 1/3 cup red onion finely diced
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese cut in small cubes or shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or dill chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until just al dente according to package directions.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down completely. Shake off excess water.
- Transfer the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl and toss with a small splash of olive oil if needed to keep it from sticking.
- In a separate medium bowl whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning mix, milk or buttermilk, and lemon juice until smooth and pourable but still thick enough to coat the pasta.
- Season the dressing with salt and black pepper to taste. Add an extra splash of milk if you prefer a looser consistency.
- Add the diced cooked chicken breast to the bowl with the pasta.
- Fold in the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, and cheddar cheese until everything is evenly distributed.
- Pour most of the creamy ranch dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss until all of the pasta and chicken are well coated.
- Stir in the chopped fresh parsley or dill and add the remaining dressing if the salad looks dry.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to several hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Just before serving, stir the pasta salad, taste, and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
- Serve cold, garnished with extra fresh herbs if you like.
Notes
- This pasta salad can be prepared a few hours in advance, making it a great option for picnics and potlucks.
- Consider adding additional vegetables based on your preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg