📋 Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

chicken bacon ranch pasta salad being lifted out of a flowered bowl with salad utensils

5 from 1 vote

📋 Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

This Creamy Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad is easy, delicious, healthy, and an entire meal in one bowl. With a perfectly balanced creamy and tangy dressing and vermicelli noodles, it's a unique and tasty summer salad!

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American, Canadian

Keyword bacon, chicken, pasta salad, ranch

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings servings

Calories 492kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Equipment

Ingredients

8-10 slices bacon
3-4 chicken breasts
16 oz Vermicelli noodles
2 large tomatoes
1 cucumber *Long English cucumber
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
½ red onion

Salad dressing

1.5 ounces dry Ranch dressing mix (about 1 ½ packages) * I use Hidden Valley
½ cup milk * I use 1 % milk
¾ cup mayonnaise * I use Hellman's ½ the fat
3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoon white vinegar
3 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoon water
3 teaspoon Italian dressing

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

Cook chicken and bacon and set aside (See Top Tip re: bacon)
Cook pasta as per package directions, drain and cool.
Whisk all salad dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.
Add all salad ingredients with ranch dressing together in a large bowl, and mix well. * You can cut the chicken into cubes/chunks and slice some to put on top, if desired. Or simply cut all the chicken into small bite-sized pieces.
Garnish with parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

Expert Recipe Tips:

- Cook Pasta Al Dente – Overcooked pasta can become mushy when mixed with dressing. Cook it just until al dente, then rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.

- Crispy Bacon Hack – For the crispiest bacon with minimal mess, bake it in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Or, use pre-cooked bacon for convenience.

- Shred vs. Cube Chicken – If you prefer a softer texture, shred the chicken instead of cubing it. This allows the dressing to coat the chicken more evenly. You can shred it quickly using your

- Chill Before Serving – Letting the salad sit in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving allows the flavors to meld together for a better taste.

- Toss with Half the Dressing First – Start by mixing in half of the dressing, then add more as needed to prevent overdressing. The pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it sits.

- Prevent Watery Salad – If making ahead, store veggies separately and add them just before serving to prevent them from releasing water into the salad.

- Use Rotisserie Chicken for Convenience – Save time by using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken breasts from scratch.

- Customize the Texture – For extra crunch, add sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, or crispy fried onions.

Storage:

Store leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days.

If you want to make this creamy pasta salad in advance, keep the vegetables, dressing, meat, and pasta in separate containers. Combine just before serving.

These ingredients don't stand up to freezing. The mayonnaise-based dressing can separate, and the veggies may become watery when thawed.

Nutrition