This Lighter Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad makes for the perfect summer salad or potluck dish! It’s packed with tender chicken, fresh veggies, pasta, and then drizzled with a buffalo ranch dressing! This salad will be on repeat during those hot summer months!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 22 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. short pasta – shells, rotini, penne, elbow, or bow-tie. Whole grain and gluten-free pasta would work. I like to use Fiber Gourmet rotini since it’s lower in points.
- 1 cup light ranch or blue cheese dressing-I like to use my skinny ranch dressing recipe. You could also use Opa Greek yogurt ranch dressing that you find at most grocery stores in the produce department.
- ⅓ cup Frank’s buffalo hot sauce, or more to taste
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
- 1 cup shredded carrots, chopped
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ½ cup green onions, diced
- Reduced fat bleu cheese crumbles, for optional garnish.
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until el dente, according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cool water.
- While the pasta is cooking, mix together the buffalo ranch dressing in a small mixing bowl. Whisk together the skinny ranch dressing or light blue cheese dressing and buffalo sauce. Taste and add more buffalo sauce, if desired.
- In a large serving bowl, ddd the pasta, cooked chicken, carrots, celery, and scallions.
- Drizzle dressing over the top and toss gently until ingredients are well combined with the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- When ready to serve garnish with blue cheese crumbles and gentle toss salad.
- The pasta salad can be made up to 48 hours ahead of time. If it’s too dry when getting it out of the fridge, add a splash or two of milk to loosen it back up again.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make 8 ( 1 cup) servings
- 4 WW Points® per serving if using Fiber Gourmet and Opa Light ranch dressing or Pound Droppers skinny ranch
- 4 WW Points® per serving if using Fiber Gourmet and Opa Light ranch dressing or Pound Droppers skinny ranch
- 5-6 WW Points® per serving if using Barilla short pasta or whole wheat pasta and Opa Light ranch dressing or Pound Droppers skinny ranch
Note: Point values do not include the optional blue cheese crumbles.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 742mgCarbohydrates: 46gNet Carbohydrates: 20gFiber: 26gSugar: 2gProtein: 19g
