Description
A flavorful and refreshing Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combining rotini pasta, shredded chicken tossed in spicy buffalo wing sauce, crunchy vegetables, and creamy blue cheese dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a party side dish, this salad offers a delicious balance of heat and creaminess with a crisp texture from fresh celery, carrots, and bell pepper.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base
- 3 cups rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast
Vegetables
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
Dressings and Sauces
- 1/2 cup hot buffalo wing sauce
- 1 cup blue cheese dressing
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Garnishes and Seasoning
- 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. Set aside.
- Toss Chicken with Sauce: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and hot buffalo wing sauce. Toss well until the chicken is evenly coated with the spicy sauce.
- Add Vegetables: Add the diced celery, shredded carrots, red bell pepper, and red onion to the bowl with the buffalo chicken. Mix thoroughly to combine all the ingredients.
- Combine Pasta and Dressing: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl. Pour the blue cheese dressing over the mixture and toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated.
- Fold in Cheese and Parsley: Gently fold in the crumbled blue cheese and chopped fresh parsley, ensuring they are distributed throughout the salad without breaking down the textures.
- Season: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning if necessary for flavor balance.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Serve: Serve cold, garnished if desired, and enjoy your refreshing Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad!
Notes
- For a milder version, reduce the amount of buffalo wing sauce or substitute with mild wing sauce.
- Make sure to cool the pasta completely before mixing to avoid wilting the fresh vegetables and breaking down the dressing.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead and tastes even better after marinating overnight.
- Use gluten-free rotini pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
