If you love the bold, zesty flavors of Buffalo wings but want something cool and refreshing for a picnic or potluck, you simply have to try Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad. It’s everything you crave in the classic appetizer, tossed together with pasta for a satisfying, creamy, and totally irresistible dish that’s a hit year-round!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big Buffalo Flavor, Made Chill: All the spicy tang and cool creamy richness of your favorite Buffalo wings, but ready to eat straight from the fridge.
- Quick & Effortless: Just a handful of pantry and fridge staples get tossed together in minutes—no oven or complicated steps here.
- Crowd-Pleasing & Portable: This pasta salad travels like a dream, making it perfect for summer barbecues, meal prep, and office lunches alike.
- Zest, Crunch, Creaminess: Every bite delivers a mix of tender chicken, crisp veggies, and tangy, creamy dressing that keeps you going back for more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is that it calls for simple, familiar ingredients—but each one brings something special to the party! From bold Buffalo sauce and sharp blue cheese to crisp veggies and al dente rotini, these essentials create an irresistible balance of flavor and texture.
- Rotini pasta: The spirals catch all that luscious dressing and keep every bite satisfying; feel free to swap for penne or another short pasta if needed.
- Cooked chicken breast: Shredded for easy mixing, it makes the pasta salad hearty (use rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken if you’re short on time).
- Celery (chopped): Brings signature Buffalo crunch and a refreshing counterpoint to the heat.
- Shredded carrots: For sweetness, color, and added crunch in every forkful.
- Ranch dressing: Creamy, cool, and loaded with flavor, this forms the base of your dressing—choose your favorite brand or homemade.
- Buffalo sauce: Frank’s Red Hot is classic, but any Buffalo-style hot sauce you love will deliver that signature zing.
- Crumbled blue cheese: Adds a tangy, funky kick that takes things over the top—skip it if you’re not a fan, or swap for extra ranch or cheddar.
Variations
The best thing about Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is how endlessly customizable it is. Play with the mix-ins, dial the spice up or down, and swap ingredients to fit dietary needs or what’s hanging out in your fridge!
- Extra Heat: Add a finely chopped jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne for those who crave a fiery kick.
- Light & Healthy: Use Greek yogurt in place of ranch for extra protein and a tangy twist.
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the chicken and bulk it up with chickpeas or cubes of marinated tofu for plenty of heft.
- Cheese Swap: Not a fan of blue cheese? Try crumbled feta, shredded cheddar, or just stick with extra ranch for a different flavor spin.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Step 1: Make the Buffalo Ranch Dressing
Start by whisking together the ranch dressing, blue cheese, and Buffalo sauce in a small bowl. Give it a taste—don’t be shy!—and add more Buffalo sauce until you hit the perfect balance of creamy heat for your crowd.
Step 2: Toss the Pasta and Veggies
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and chilled rotini with the shredded chicken, chopped celery, and shredded carrots. The key is making sure your pasta is nice and cold so it won’t soak up too much dressing and get mushy.
Step 3: Mix and Chill
Pour the zesty dressing over the pasta mixture and stir thoroughly until every piece is coated in saucy goodness. If you have time, pop the salad in the fridge for at least 10–15 minutes before serving to let the flavors mingle and the salad stay crisp.
Step 4: Serve and Savor
Divide into bowls or scoop onto a big platter and finish with an extra sprinkle of blue cheese or chopped celery if you like. This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is fabulous chilled, but it’s also delicious lightly brought up to room temperature for parties and game day spreads!
Pro Tips for Making Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Allowing your Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad to rest in the fridge (even just 20 minutes!) helps the dressing soak in and really brings the flavors together.
- Pasta Matters: Cook pasta just to al dente and rinse under cold water right away—this stops the cooking and prevents it from turning mushy once dressed.
- Shred, Don’t Cube the Chicken: Shredded chicken tucks into the pasta nooks and crannies, so every bite is loaded with flavor, unlike large cubes that fall to the bottom.
- Adjust Heat Gently: Always taste before adding more Buffalo sauce; a little goes a long way, and you can serve extra sauce on the side for spice-lovers!
How to Serve Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Garnishes
For the finishing touch, top your Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with extra crumbled blue cheese, a handful of chopped green onions, or even a sprinkle of fresh parsley for color. A light drizzle of extra Buffalo sauce can turn it from “pretty good” to “wow!”
Side Dishes
This pasta salad stands alone, but it’s amazing alongside cool watermelon wedges, crispy kettle chips, or buttery garlic bread. At a grill-out, pair it with burgers or simple grilled corn for the ultimate summer feast.
Creative Ways to Present
Spoon the salad into lettuce cups for a party-friendly appetizer, serve it mounded on a big platter for a crowd, or pack it in mason jars for easy, cheerful lunches on the go. You can even portion it into small cups for snack-sized servings at a kids’ birthday party!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it’ll stay fresh, crisp, and tasty for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Freezing
This pasta salad is best enjoyed fresh, as freezing can change the texture of the pasta and make the veggies watery. If you want to prep ahead, consider freezing just the cooked chicken.
Reheating
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is always served cold or at room temperature, so there’s no need for reheating. If you’d like it less chilly, just let it sit at room temp for 10–15 minutes before serving.
FAQs
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Can I use rotisserie chicken in Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad?
Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is perfect here—just shred it and toss it into the salad for a speedy and flavorful shortcut.
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What type of pasta works best for this salad?
Rotini is my favorite because it holds the dressing beautifully, but penne, shell pasta, or bowties also work great. Just avoid long noodles—they’re a little unwieldy for a pasta salad.
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Can I make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad in advance for a party?
Yes, and it actually tastes even better after a short chill! For best results, toss everything together a few hours ahead of time, but if making the night before, keep a little extra dressing on hand to freshen it up before serving.
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Is Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad very spicy?
This salad is as spicy as you want to make it! Start with less Buffalo sauce and add more to taste—plus, serving extra on the side gives everyone a way to adjust the heat to their liking.
Final Thoughts
Whether you make it for a summer picnic, a football party, or just for weekday lunches, Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is guaranteed to wow your taste buds and your friends. Give it a try soon—I promise, it’s bound to become a staple in your dish rotation!
Print
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a zesty and flavorful dish perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. Tender rotini pasta is combined with shredded chicken, crunchy celery, and sweet carrots, all tossed in a creamy ranch and tangy buffalo sauce dressing. Topped with crumbled blue cheese for an extra kick of flavor, this salad is sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups rotini pasta, cooked to al dente and chilled
- 1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded (about 1 cup)
- 4 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce, more to taste (such as Frank’s Red Hot)
- 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, mix together the ranch dressing, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce. Adjust the spiciness to your liking by adding more hot sauce.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked rotini pasta, shredded chicken, chopped celery, and shredded carrots.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Serve: Divide the salad into bowls and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
