Lets Try This Creamy & Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad!
Let’s take two of the world’s greatest comfort foods—creamy pasta salad and zesty buffalo chicken—and bring them together for a dish that is guaranteed to be the star of any potluck, picnic, or weeknight dinner. This is not your average, boring pasta salad. This is a flavor-packed, creamy, and spicy masterpiece.
We’re going to toss tender pasta and savory shredded chicken in a vibrant, creamy dressing that has all the classic, tangy heat of buffalo sauce, perfectly balanced by cool, creamy ranch. We’ll load it up with crunchy celery, sharp red onion, and a crumble of funky blue cheese for a symphony of textures and flavors in every single bite.
This is a dish that’s incredibly easy to make ahead of time and only gets better as the flavors meld. Get ready to create a new family favorite that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Quick Recipe Snapshot
Here’s a quick look at the timeline for this crowd-pleasing salad.
| Prep time | Cook time | Total time | Yield | Skill level | Spice level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 minutes | 10-12 minutes (for pasta) | 32 minutes | 8-10 servings | Easy | Medium-Spicy |
Ingredients
A great pasta salad is all about the combination of textures and a killer dressing.
For the Salad Base:
- Pasta – A short pasta shape with plenty of nooks and crannies to catch the dressing is ideal. Cellentani (corkscrew), rotini, or medium shells are perfect.
- 4-5 servings: 8 oz
- 8-10 servings: 16 oz (1 lb)
- Shredded Cooked Chicken – A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver here. You can also use any leftover cooked chicken.
- 4-5 servings: 2 cups
- 8-10 servings: 4 cups
- Celery: 3-4 ribs, finely chopped for that signature crunch.
- Red Onion: ½, finely chopped for a sharp, savory bite.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles: 4 oz (about 1 cup). Omit or substitute with shredded cheddar if you’re not a fan.
For the Spicy Buffalo-Ranch Dressing:
- Ranch Dressing: 1 cup. Use your favorite high-quality, thick and creamy brand.
- Buffalo-Style Hot Sauce: ½ cup. Frank’s RedHot is the classic choice for that authentic flavor.
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt: ½ cup, to add extra creaminess and tang.
- Fresh Herbs: 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or dill (optional, but adds great freshness).
Spice Profile Breakdown
The spice in this dish is the classic, tangy, and direct heat of buffalo sauce.
| Spice | Flavor Role | Optional Substitution |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo-Style Hot Sauce | Provides the primary, signature vinegary, and medium-level cayenne heat. | Other cayenne-based hot sauces will work, but the flavor may differ slightly. |
| Black Pepper | Adds a subtle, pungent background heat that complements the other flavors. | White pepper for a sharper, more floral note. |
| Red Onion | While not a spice, its raw, sharp, and slightly spicy bite is a key flavor component. | Scallions for a milder onion flavor. |
| Blue Cheese | Adds a funky, sharp, and salty element that is the classic pairing for buffalo sauce. | Shredded sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack. |
Essential Tools
This is a simple recipe that requires just a few kitchen basics.
- Large pot for cooking pasta
- Colander
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Sharp knife and cutting board
Cooking Instructions
This salad comes together in a few easy steps, making it perfect for any occasion.
Step 1: Cook and Cool the Pasta
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook according to the package directions until it is al dente (tender but still has a slight bite). This is important, as mushy pasta will fall apart in the salad.
Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it under cold running water. Rinsing stops the cooking process and removes excess starch, which prevents the pasta from clumping together as it cools. Set the cooled pasta aside to drain thoroughly.
Step 2: Whip Up the Creamy Buffalo Dressing
While the pasta is cooking, you can make the flavor-packed dressing. In a large mixing bowl (the one you’ll eventually mix the whole salad in), combine the ranch dressing, buffalo hot sauce, and sour cream or Greek yogurt.
Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth, creamy, and a vibrant orange color. Stir in the optional fresh chives or dill, and season with a good pinch of black pepper.
Step 3: Combine the Main Ingredients
To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked and cooled pasta, the shredded chicken, the finely chopped celery, and the finely chopped red onion.
Use a large spatula or spoon to gently fold everything together. Make sure the pasta, chicken, and vegetables are all evenly and generously coated in that beautiful, creamy buffalo dressing.
Step 4: Fold in the Cheese and Chill
Gently fold in the blue cheese crumbles. You want to add these last so they don’t get completely broken down during the mixing process. You can serve the pasta salad immediately, but for the absolute best flavor, it’s highly recommended to cover the bowl and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
This allows the pasta to absorb the dressing and gives all the flavors a chance to meld and marry into a cohesive, delicious salad. Before serving, give it one final gentle stir.
Recipe Variations
This pasta salad is a fantastic starting point. Feel free to customize it!
- Adjusting the Spice: For a milder salad, reduce the buffalo sauce to ¼ cup. For a truly fiery version, increase the buffalo sauce to ¾ cup or add a few dashes of an even hotter hot sauce.
- Protein Swaps: This salad is also delicious with leftover shredded turkey or crispy crumbled bacon instead of chicken.
- Add-Ins for Extra Texture: For some extra crunch and flavor, try adding a cup of shredded carrots, a can of drained corn, or even some crispy fried onions.
Serving Suggestions
This hearty pasta salad can be a main course or a fantastic side dish.
- As a Main Course: Serve a generous scoop over a bed of crisp romaine lettuce for a satisfying and complete meal.
- At a BBQ or Potluck: It’s the perfect side dish to serve alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, or ribs.
- Garnishes: Garnish with extra blue cheese crumbles, a drizzle of buffalo sauce, and a sprinkle of fresh chives or parsley to make it look as good as it tastes.
Storage & Reheating Tips
This salad is an excellent make-ahead dish.
- Storage: Store the buffalo chicken pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: This salad is meant to be served cold. Do not reheat it.
- Flavor Note: The flavors will continue to deepen as the salad sits overnight. The pasta will also absorb some of the dressing, so you may want to have a little extra dressing on hand to stir in before serving leftovers to freshen it up.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| My pasta salad is dry. | Pasta is very absorbent, especially after sitting overnight. Simply stir in a few extra tablespoons of ranch dressing or a dollop of sour cream to bring back the creaminess. |
| The salad is bland. | It likely needs more seasoning. Don’t be afraid to add a generous pinch of salt and black pepper to the dressing. A little extra buffalo sauce can also boost the flavor significantly. |
| My pasta is mushy. | You overcooked it. For pasta salad, it’s crucial to cook the pasta just until it’s al dente. Also, rinsing it with cold water immediately after draining stops the cooking process and is a key step. |
| The red onion flavor is too overpowering. | To mellow the sharp bite of raw red onion, you can soak the chopped onion in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes before draining it and adding it to the salad. |
FAQs
Can I use a different kind of cheese?
Yes, absolutely. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, this salad is equally delicious with a cup of shredded sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
The blue cheese just provides that classic “buffalo wing” flavor profile.
What’s the best way to cook chicken for this salad?
Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken is the fastest and easiest method.
However, you can also boil or poach 2-3 chicken breasts until cooked through, then let them cool and shred them with two forks. Leftover grilled or baked chicken also works perfectly.
Can I make the dressing from scratch?
Of course! A homemade ranch dressing would be incredible.
You can also make a simple creamy base by combining mayonnaise, sour cream, and your own blend of herbs like dill, parsley, and chives, along with garlic and onion powder.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
A creamy, spicy, flavor-packed pasta salad bursting with buffalo heat, tender chicken, and crunchy veggies—your new crowd-stopping side dish that disappears fast!
Ingredients
- Pasta & Chicken
- 3 cups cooked rotini or bowtie pasta
- 2 cups cooked shredded or diced chicken
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- ½ cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Vegetables
- 1 cup celery, finely chopped
- 1 cup carrots, diced or shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup red onion, finely chopped
- Add-Ins
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or crumbled blue cheese
- Fresh parsley or green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions, then drain and let it cool completely.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the buffalo sauce until fully coated.
- Add the celery, carrots, tomatoes, and red onion to the bowl.
- Stir in the ranch (or blue cheese) dressing and mix until everything is evenly combined.
- Add the pasta and cheese, then toss well to coat.
- Chill for about 30 minutes to let the flavors blend.
- Garnish with parsley or green onions before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the heat: Add extra buffalo sauce or a pinch of cayenne for more spice.
- Make it lighter: Use Greek-yogurt ranch or light dressing.
- Meal prep friendly: Stays fresh 2–3 days in the fridge.
- Add crunch: Toss in diced cucumbers or extra celery.
- Cheese swap: Blue cheese gives a stronger flavor; cheddar keeps it mild and creamy.
Let’s Get Mixing!
You are now ready to make a buffalo chicken pasta salad that will be the talk of any gathering. It’s the perfect combination of creamy, spicy, and crunchy, and it’s so easy to put together.
I hope you and your family love this fun and flavorful twist on a classic pasta salad. Enjoy!
