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Creamy Crack Chicken Pasta Salad

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A creamy, flavorful pasta salad featuring tender chicken, crispy bacon, and a tangy ranch-cream cheese dressing. Perfect for potlucks, casual lunches, or weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch dressing mix
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 9-11 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. If not using pre-cooked chicken, poach or pan-sear about 2 chicken breasts seasoned with salt and pepper. Let cool, then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy (about 8 minutes). Transfer to paper towels and crumble once cool. Optionally save a teaspoon of bacon grease for dressing.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and sour cream. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add cooled pasta, shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar, sliced green onions, and diced celery to the dressing. Gently fold until evenly coated.
  6. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, keeping in mind bacon and ranch mix add saltiness.
  7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors meld.
  8. Before serving, gently stir the salad and optionally garnish with extra green onions or bacon bits.

Notes

Rinse pasta after cooking to prevent mushiness and help dressing cling better. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth dressing. Add salt gradually due to salty bacon and ranch mix. Prepare a day ahead for best flavor. To loosen salad if too thick, stir in a splash of milk or sour cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy crack chicken pasta salad, potluck recipe, chicken pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, easy pasta salad

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