The BEST Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

The Pasta Salad Everyone’s Fighting Over at the BBQ: BEST Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad! Let’s be real—every backyard BBQ has that one dish people won’t shut up about. And this is it. The Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad that will have everyone asking, “Wait…who made this?” like it’s a secret family recipe. Spoiler: it’s yours now.

This isn’t your basic, mayo-laden pasta salad that sits untouched in the corner. Oh no. This one’s loaded with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, shredded mozzarella (or cheddar), homemade ranch (!!!), and even romaine lettuce for that cool, crisp crunch. It’s like a chicken bacon ranch sandwich and a pasta salad fell in love and had the most iconic side dish of the spring and summer!

What Makes This Pasta Salad So Legendary?

• Bacon. Enough said.
• Chicken. Seasoned to perfection, cooked until golden, and the actual star of the show.
• Cheese. Because you can’t not have cheese.
• Ranch. Homemade or store-bought, we’re not judging.
• Crunchy lettuce + croutons. Hello texture! It’s giving salad, it’s giving pasta, it’s giving yes please.
• Perfect for BBQs, cookouts, potlucks, or just lunch for the week.

A Little Fun Fact:

Ranch dressing? Born in the Midwest, just like all great comfort food. It was actually invented by a Nebraskan named Steve Henson in the 1950s before it became the best-selling salad dressing in the U.S. So next time someone says “you put ranch on everything,” just say: “It’s cultural.”

BEST Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

This one’s loaded with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, shredded cheese, homemade ranch (!!!), and even romaine lettuce for that cool, crisp crunch.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:25 minutes mins

Total Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Pasta Salad:

• 1 -1.5 lbs chicken breasts cut into 2″ pieces
• Salt/Pepper
• 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
• 8 strips bacon crushed/chopped
• 8 oz dry Farfalle pasta rotini works too
• 6 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
• Pinch Perfect Salad Supreme *optional*
• Desired Croutons

Ranch:

• 1 Cup Buttermilk
• 1/2 Cup Mayo
• 1/4 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1 Packet Hidden Valley Restaurant-Style Dressing any brand works but this is my preferred!

Instructions

Start with the Ranch Dressing

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together: ½ cup mayo, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 packet Hidden Valley Restaurant Style ranch mix (0.4 oz), ¼ teaspoon dried dill
• Mix until smooth, then pop it in the fridge so the flavors can mingle while you prep everything else.

Crisp Up the Bacon

• In a large skillet, cook your diced bacon over low heat until perfectly crispy. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Remove half of the bacon drippings from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons behind—this is flavor gold.

Cook the Chicken

• Rub 1 tablespoon of olive oil all over the chicken and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Add the chicken to the same skillet and cook over medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes per side or until fully cooked. Remove and let it rest for a few minutes, then chop into bite-size pieces.

Boil the Pasta

• Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 8 oz of farfalle (aka bowtie pasta) until al dente, according to the package instructions.
• Drain and rinse under cold water to cool things down.

Assemble the Pasta Salad

• In a large bowl, combine: Cooked farfalle pasta, Diced chicken, Crispy bacon, Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Pour most of the homemade ranch dressing over the top (save a little for later) and toss it all together until everything is evenly coated. Add 8–10 good shakes of Salad Supreme seasoning for extra flavor.

Finish with Crunch

• Just before serving, toss in the shredded romaine lettuce and chopped croutons. Drizzle with the remaining ranch dressing and give it one last toss.

Servings: 12