Description
A flavorful and zesty Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combining tender rotini pasta, spicy buffalo chicken, fresh vegetables, and creamy blue cheese dressing. Perfectly chilled and tossed to meld bold flavors for a deliciously satisfying dish ideal for lunch, picnics, or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 3 cups rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup hot buffalo wing sauce
Vegetables
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
Dressing and Garnish
- 1 cup blue cheese dressing
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta quickly and stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Prepare Buffalo Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the shredded cooked chicken breast with the hot buffalo wing sauce. Toss thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Add Vegetables: Add the diced celery, shredded carrots, diced red bell pepper, and diced red onion to the buffalo chicken mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Combine Pasta and Dressing: Add the cooled rotini pasta to the bowl. Pour the blue cheese dressing over the mixture and toss everything gently but thoroughly until well combined.
- Fold in Blue Cheese and Parsley: Gently fold in the crumbled blue cheese and fresh chopped parsley, mixing until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the salad.
- Season: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning if needed for flavor balance.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours. This resting time allows the flavors to meld together beautifully and the pasta to absorb the dressing.
- Serve: Serve the Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad chilled and enjoy as a spicy, creamy, and refreshing dish.
Notes
- Be sure to cool the pasta completely to prevent the dressing from becoming oily.
- Use freshly cooked chicken or leftover roasted chicken for ease.
- Adjust the amount of buffalo sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter version, substitute blue cheese dressing with Greek yogurt mixed with blue cheese crumbles.
- Salad stores well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days but is best enjoyed fresh.
