Description
This Popcorn Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a hearty, flavorful dish combining tender popcorn chicken, crispy bacon bits, fresh vegetables, and a creamy ranch dressing coating al dente rotini pasta. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or a quick weeknight dinner, it offers a comforting blend of textures and tastes in every bite.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 12 ounces Rotini Pasta
- 1 Packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
- Bacon Bits
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 25 ounce Package Frozen Popcorn Chicken
- 3 Green Onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup Shredded or Cubed Cheddar
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Mayonnaise
- 2–3 Tablespoons Milk
Instructions
- Cook popcorn chicken: Follow the package instructions to cook the frozen popcorn chicken until hot and crispy, then set aside to cool.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, cook the rotini pasta until al dente according to package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Prepare ranch sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder, and pepper until smooth and well blended.
- Add mix-ins: Stir in the bacon bits, sliced green onions, cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheddar cheese into the ranch mixture.
- Combine ingredients: Add the cooled popcorn chicken and cooked pasta to the bowl with the ranch mixture. Toss everything gently until evenly coated.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- For extra flavor, sprinkle additional bacon bits or shredded cheese before serving.
- This salad can be made a day ahead; keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Use fresh cherry tomatoes for best taste, but other quick-cooking vegetables can be substituted.
- If a lighter version is preferred, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10th of recipe
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
