This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is packed with flavor and so easy to make! With tender chicken, juicy tomatoes, smoky bacon, cheddar cheese, creamy ranch dressing, and rotini pasta, it’s a true crowd-pleaser! It’s the perfect dish to bring to a potluck, serve at a summer cookout, or enjoy as a simple weeknight side.

If you’re looking for an easy side dish that will have everybody coming back for more, this ranch pasta salad recipe with juicy chicken and crispy bacon is the answer! It’s sure to disappear fast at any potluck or cookout. Plus, you can prep it ahead of time and let it chill in the fridge while you get everything else ready.
When it comes to pasta salad recipes, this is one of my absolute favorites! I mean, ranch is a classic for a reason. It’s one of those flavors that can pretty much go with anything - especially bacon and cheese!
Can’t get enough ranch? check out my savory ranch pork chops and this avocado lime ranch dressing next!
Ingredients

- Pasta: I used rotini because it holds onto creamy dressings well, but feel free to try a different shape like bow ties, penne, or shells if you’d like.
- Chicken Breasts: You’ll need two grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I grill mine with a little salt and pepper, but you can season them however you prefer.
- Cheddar Cheese: You can use sharp or mild cheese for making this chicken bacon pasta salad.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Be sure to use ripe tomatoes that are bright red and firm for the best flavor and texture.
- Bacon: Feel free to cook the bacon any way you’d like - in the oven, on the stovetop, or in the microwave. You can even try it with some air fryer turkey bacon for a leaner swap!
- Green Onions: These add a pop of mild onion flavor without being overpowering.
- Ranch Dressing: You’ll need a packet of ranch dressing mix, mayo, sour cream, and milk to create a rich and creamy dressing.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free rotini noodles to make this chicken bacon ranch salad gluten-free.
- More Veggies: Throw in some additional veggies like cucumbers, bell peppers, and/or broccoli.
- Spicy: Add some chopped jalapenos and swap the cheddar for pepper jack to add a kick to this chicken ranch pasta salad.
How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad with Bacon & Ranch
To get started making this pasta salad with chicken, cook the rotini according to package directions and cook the bacon. You’ll also need to grill your chicken breasts if you didn’t already. I like to make them the night before and keep them in the fridge.

Step 1: Make the dressing. Add all of the dressing ingredients to a bowl and whisk until well combined.

Step 2: Begin assembling. Add the pasta, chicken, cheese, tomatoes, bacon, green onions, and parsley to a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Pour in the dressing. Add the ranch dressing to the pasta mixture.

Step 4: Mix everything together. Stir the dressing into the pasta mixture until it is well distributed. Keep the pasta salad in the fridge until ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some tasty ideas for enjoying this tasty chicken ranch pasta salad:
- Fire up the grill and serve this ranch pasta salad as a side with grilled chicken wings or grilled salmon.
- It’s also great with hot dogs served on these homemade hot dog buns!
- Whip up a batch for your next get together along with other crowd favorites like cold shrimp dip and strawberry banana cheesecake salad.

Expert Tips
- Rinse the pasta: After draining, rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly.
- Let it chill: Be sure to refrigerate the assembled pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to give the flavors time to meld together.
- Storing: Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe FAQs
Overcooking the pasta will cause it to become mushy when mixed with the other ingredients. Be sure to cook just until al dente so that the noodles hold their shape and texture.
The pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it chills, causing the salad to dry out. To fix this, you can either reserve a little dressing to stir in just before serving or mix in a splash of milk to loosen it up. Also, be sure your pasta has completely cooled before adding the dressing to help prevent it from soaking in too much.

More Delicious Summer Salads

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini pasta cooked and cooled
- 2 grilled chicken breasts cut into cubes
- 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
- 3 green onions sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Dressing
- 1 packet ranch dressing mix
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk until smooth, then refrigerate while preparing the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini pasta, cubed grilled chicken, cubed cheddar cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped bacon, sliced green onions, and chopped parsley.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
- Stir the salad before serving and garnish with additional parsley or green onions if desired.
Notes
- Rinse the pasta after cooking to help it cool and prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Be sure the pasta is fully cooled before mixing with the other ingredients to keep it from melting the cheese and soaking in too much of the dressing as it chills.
- The pasta salad will keep for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.