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This BUFFALO CHICKEN PASTA SALAD is perfect for a summer potluck or gathering when you want to spice things up! Tender chicken, a spicy dressing, and the sweet crunch of fresh carrots and celery make for the perfect pasta salad.
Not only are we big fans of buffalo chicken, we are also obsessed with summer salads.
Not so much the kind that start with lettuce, but the kind that start with pasta, potatoes, or even jello. 😉
I mean, our vegetable salad is absolutely delicious and perfect for summer, but sometimes you need something like baked potato salad, Amish macaroni salad, or Snickers apple salad. Salads that really aren’t…salad.
Enter this spicy buffalo chicken pasta salad! It’s loaded with tender chunks of chicken, crisp veggies, plenty of hot sauce, and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Served cold, this is a fun side dish that will spice up any summer gathering.
We’ve also been known to make a sandwich out of our buffalo chicken salad. The perfect lunch for those that like spice!
Ingredient Notes:
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Farfalle Pasta – Any small shape of pasta would work fine here.
Diced Chicken – We had some pre-cooked chicken ready to go. Try my Crockpot Shredded Chicken recipe! A rotisserie chicken would work too.
Hot Sauce – We love Frank’s Red Hot, but you can use your favorite wing sauce if you prefer.
Ranch Dressing – Blue cheese dressing is also totally acceptable, if you’re into that sort of thing.
What We Love About This Recipe!
We’ll take any excuse to eat buffalo chicken, and we love pasta, so there is a lot to like about this combination! It’s also so easy to make, the pasta takes no time and we usually have pre-cooked chicken ready to go just for recipes like this.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe:
Pasta: We used farfalle but any small shape of pasta will work well in this dish. Cook the pasta per the package instructions before draining and adding to a large mixing bowl.
Once that’s done, you’re just about finished. This is a very simple buffalo chicken pasta recipe, so all that’s left is to mix everything up.
Helpful Tips!
- Got a large gathering or you just really, really love buffalo chicken pasta? Just double the pasta and adjust the other ingredients accordingly.
- If you want more heat, try a spicier hot sauce or wing sauce. A pinch or two of ground cayenne would also heat things up nicely.
Sauce: Toss the pasta with the ranch or blue cheese dressing, hot sauce, chicken, and some carrots and celery for a tasty summer lunch or side dish.
I used my shredded chicken from the freezer in this dish. Find out how easy it is to make right here. It will seriously change weeknight dinners!
Mix it Up!
Love blue cheese? Use that in place of the ranch!
Sprinkle shredded cheddar or crumbled blue cheese right on top of the salad before serving.
FAq’s:
We like to let this chill for 2 hours in the fridge before serving. This will ensure the pasta is good and cold and that the flavors have had time to soak into the pasta.
We like to use leftover chicken in recipes like this, such as diced grilled chicken from the night before, shredded rotisserie chicken, or even canned chicken. Our Instant Pot Whole Chicken shreds beautifully for use in recipes like this.
As written, we think this recipe has a little kick but we’d still consider it mild. To make it even more mild, use Frank’s wing sauce instead of Frank’s hot sauce. To make it more spicy, use your favorite hot wing sauce and/or mix dried cayenne into the pasta salad.
MORE BUFFALO CHICKEN RECIPES!
- Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Buffalo Chicken Flautas
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Dip Bread
- Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (Low Carb)
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces farfalle pasta
- 1 cup cooked, diced chicken
- 1/2 cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- 1/3 cup prepared Ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 cup diced celery
- 1/4 cup diced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to a large bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Before serving, stir the pasta and taste. Add more hot sauce and ranch dressing as desired.
Peabers says
I JUST made this tonight. Loved it! It’s so incredibly easy and fast. We made this with ranch and sprinkled the blue cheese crumbles on it.
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Katrina says
in 40 degree humid I have been trying a whole slew of cold pasta salads for farm suppers. This one was a HUGE hit last night. SO good. I doubled the dressing because I (personally) found it a little dry, but that is personal preference. This salad is going to happen often going forward. Thank you SO much!
Karly says
Thanks, Katrina!
Perplexed says
Feet are gross… Reading about feet in steel boots made my stomach flip flop so violently that I was unable to even make it to the recipe….
Why why why would u mix a foot story with a recipe ?
Annie @Maebells says
This looks so great! I love anything buffalo flavored! Perfect summer dish!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
Hahaha! You crack me up! We always put our sheets on the same way too…tag down at the bottom left corner. I just never thought about it being because of feet. Now that’s all I will think of when I make the bed. Shiver! And ruin this delicious pasta dish with moldy cheese? No way! I’m glad we feel the same about that!!!