Crispy Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Golden crispy chicken bites meet creamy ranch dressing in this satisfying pasta salad with fresh vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Vegetables

01 - 9 oz short pasta (rotini or penne)
02 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Crispy Chicken

05 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
06 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
09 - ½ tsp garlic powder
10 - ½ tsp paprika
11 - ¼ tsp salt
12 - ¼ tsp black pepper
13 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Ranch Dressing

14 - ½ cup mayonnaise
15 - ¼ cup sour cream
16 - ¼ cup buttermilk
17 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
18 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
19 - 1 tsp garlic powder
20 - 1 tsp onion powder
21 - ½ tsp salt
22 - ¼ tsp black pepper
23 - 1 tsp lemon juice

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.
02 - Cut chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized chunks for even cooking.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: flour in the first, beaten eggs in the second, and panko mixed with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in the third.
04 - Coat each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg, allowing excess to drip off, then press firmly into panko mixture to adhere.
05 - Heat ½ inch oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches without overcrowding, 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
06 - Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in large bowl until smooth and creamy.
07 - Add cooked pasta, peas, bell pepper, and green onions to dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated.
08 - Fold crispy chicken pieces into salad just before serving to preserve crunch. Serve immediately or refrigerate 30 minutes for chilled version.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The crispy chicken stays remarkably crunchy even after sitting in the creamy dressing for hours
  • People will literally hover around the serving bowl at potlucks, asking what makes it so special
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that adding the chicken too early makes it soggy, so fold it in right before serving
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water until it's completely cold is the secret to perfect texture
03 -
  • Patting the chicken completely dry before breading is the difference between good and great
  • Let the fried chicken cool on a wire rack instead of paper towels for maximum crunch retention
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