Crispy Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender pasta with crispy chicken, peas, and creamy ranch dressing. A versatile dish perfect for picnics and potlucks.

# 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 teaspoon garlic powder
10 - ½ teaspoon paprika
11 - ¼ teaspoon salt
12 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
13 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Ranch Dressing

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

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, rinse with cold water, and set aside to cool.
02 - While pasta cooks, slice boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches each.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls in a row. Place flour in the first bowl, beaten eggs in the second bowl, and combine panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in the third bowl.
04 - Coat each chicken piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into beaten egg, then press into panko mixture until fully coated. Place breaded pieces on a clean plate.
05 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry chicken pieces for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, fresh dill, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice until smooth and well combined.
07 - Add cooled pasta, thawed peas, diced bell pepper, and sliced green onions to the bowl with ranch dressing. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
08 - Gently fold in the crispy chicken pieces just before serving to preserve crispness and texture.
09 - Serve immediately for optimal crunch, or refrigerate for 30 minutes if a chilled salad is preferred.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot crispy chicken and cool creamy pasta hits every texture craving
  • It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors mingle
  • People assume you spent hours when it comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after frying so the crust stays intact
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water or the heat will make the dressing separate
  • The salad needs 30 minutes in the fridge for flavors to meld properly
03 -
  • Pat the chicken completely dry before breading or the coating will slide right off
  • Let the breaded chicken sit on a rack for 10 minutes before frying for the best adhesion
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