This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is the cold summer side dish I want at every cookout, beach day, picnic, BBQ, potluck, and baseball game. It has all the flavors of buffalo chicken — spicy buffalo sauce, creamy ranch, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, crunchy celery, green onions, and a little blue cheese on top — mixed into a big bowl of pasta salad.
It’s creamy, spicy, tangy, crunchy, and so easy to make ahead. The rotini pasta catches all that buffalo ranch dressing, and the shredded chicken makes it hearty enough to serve as a side dish or an easy summer lunch.
This is one of those recipes that feels perfect for real life. Bring it to a cookout, pack it for the beach, serve it with tortilla chips, or make it before a baseball game when you need something cold and filling that people can scoop right onto a plate.
Why You’ll Love This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
This recipe is everything I want in a summer pasta salad: easy, flavorful, cold, creamy, and make-ahead friendly.
You’ll love it because:
- It’s perfect for cookouts, BBQs, potlucks, picnics, beach days, and baseball games.
- It tastes like buffalo chicken dip turned into pasta salad.
- It can be made ahead and served cold.
- It uses rotini pasta, which holds the creamy buffalo ranch dressing really well.
- You can use boiled shredded chicken, rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken.
- The celery, red bell pepper, and green onions add crunch and color.
- A little blue cheese on top makes it look finished and gives it that classic buffalo chicken flavor.
- It goes so well with tortilla chips for scooping.
The Best Cold Summer Cookout Side
Pasta salad is always a good idea for summer, but buffalo chicken pasta salad feels especially fun because it is different from the usual macaroni salad or potato salad. It has the familiar flavors of buffalo chicken dip, but it’s served cold and works as a side dish.
That makes it great for:
- Summer cookouts
- BBQs
- Beach days
- Lake days
- Pool parties
- Picnics
- Potlucks
- Baseball games
- 4th of July parties
- Game day spreads
I love this as a cookout side because it is easy to make ahead, easy to transport, and hearty enough that people can come back for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Rotini pasta
Rotini is perfect for this recipe because the spirals hold the buffalo ranch dressing. You can also use bowtie pasta, penne, shells, cavatappi, or elbow macaroni, but rotini works really well here.
Chicken breast
I used 1½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts, which was about 2 large chicken breasts. After boiling and shredding, it gave me about 3 cups of shredded chicken.
You can also use rotisserie chicken or canned chicken if you want a shortcut. If using canned chicken, drain it well. I also like to rinse it because it helps freshen up the flavor.
Buffalo sauce
Buffalo sauce gives this pasta salad its spicy, tangy flavor. Use your favorite buffalo wing sauce. If you like it spicier, you can add a little extra.
Ranch dressing
Ranch makes the dressing creamy and cools down the heat from the buffalo sauce. This is what makes the pasta salad really crowd-friendly.
Mayonnaise
Just a little mayo helps thicken the dressing and makes the pasta salad creamy without needing a complicated homemade dressing.
Garlic powder and black pepper
These add simple seasoning and make the buffalo ranch dressing taste more complete.
Cheddar cheese
Shredded cheddar adds flavor and makes the pasta salad feel hearty and satisfying.
Red bell pepper
Red bell pepper adds color, crunch, and a little sweetness. I like to save a little bit to sprinkle on top at the end because it makes the salad look so much more appetizing.
Celery
Celery gives this pasta salad that classic buffalo wing flavor. It adds crunch and freshness. Dice it small so it blends into every bite.
Green onions
Green onions add freshness and color. Save a little for garnish at the end.
Blue cheese
The blue cheese goes on top at the end. It gives the pasta salad that classic buffalo chicken flavor and makes it look finished. If you do not like blue cheese, you can leave it off.
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Start by cooking 1 pound of rotini pasta according to the package directions. Drain it and rinse it under cold water until it is cooled. Set it aside while you prepare the chicken and dressing.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add 1½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts and boil for about 14 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. The safe minimum internal temperature for chicken is 165°F.
Remove the chicken from the water and shred it. I like to shred chicken in a stand mixer because it is fast, but you can also use two forks. This should give you about 3 cups of shredded chicken.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled rotini, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, garlic powder, black pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, diced red bell pepper, diced celery, and sliced green onions.
Mix everything together until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated in the creamy buffalo ranch dressing.
Transfer the pasta salad to a serving bowl or platter. Top with the reserved red bell pepper, celery, green onions, and crumbled blue cheese.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
The Secret to Making It Look Extra Good
Save a little bit of the diced red bell pepper, celery, and green onions before you mix everything together.
After the salad is mixed and transferred to a serving dish, sprinkle those fresh toppings over the top with the blue cheese. It makes the whole bowl look fresher, brighter, and way more appetizing.
This is especially helpful if you are photographing the recipe, bringing it to a party, or serving it on a buffet table.
Can I Use Rotisserie Chicken?
Yes. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for buffalo chicken pasta salad. Just shred it and mix it right into the pasta salad.
You need about 3 cups of shredded chicken.
Can I Use Canned Chicken?
Yes, canned chicken works too. Drain it well first. I also like to rinse canned chicken because it can help freshen the flavor and make it taste less canned.
Break it up with a fork before mixing it into the pasta salad.
Is Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Served Cold?
Yes. Buffalo chicken pasta salad is best served cold.
You can eat it right after mixing, but it tastes even better after it chills. The flavors have time to come together, and the pasta salad becomes creamier and more flavorful.
Can I Make It Ahead of Time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead pasta salad. You can make it earlier in the day or the night before.
If it sits in the fridge for a while and looks a little dry, stir in a little extra ranch dressing or buffalo sauce before serving. Pasta salad often absorbs dressing as it chills, and top-ranking recipes commonly recommend refreshing it before serving.
What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
This buffalo chicken pasta salad goes with so many summer meals. Serve it with:
- Burgers
- Hot dogs
- Grilled chicken
- BBQ chicken
- Ribs
- Pulled pork
- Steak tips
- Grilled sausages
- Sliders
- Sandwiches
- Corn on the cob
- Chips and dip
- Deviled eggs
- Watermelon
- Fresh fruit
- Tortilla chips
We especially love it with Masa tortilla chips because they are perfect for scooping up all that creamy buffalo chicken flavor.
Great for Beach Days, Picnics, and Baseball Games
This is one of those cold summer recipes that works outside the house, too. We often make it to bring to baseball games because it is filling, easy to pack, and great with chips.
It also works well for beach days, picnics, lake days, and pool parties. Just keep it cold in a cooler until you are ready to eat.
Masa Tortilla Chips Discount
We love serving this buffalo chicken pasta salad with Masa tortilla chips. They are sturdy enough for scooping and taste so good with the creamy buffalo chicken flavor.
Use code MEALSWITHMARIA for 25% off Masa chips.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission or receive product credit if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
Variations
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Ranch
This recipe uses ranch dressing in the buffalo sauce mixture, which makes it creamy and crowd-friendly.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is added on top at the end for that classic buffalo chicken flavor. You can add more if your family loves blue cheese.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Rotisserie Chicken
Use about 3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken instead of boiling chicken breasts.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Canned Chicken
Use drained and rinsed canned chicken for an easy shortcut.
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Add extra buffalo sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper if you want more heat.
Milder Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Use a little less buffalo sauce and add a little more ranch dressing.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Chips
Serve it with tortilla chips for scooping. This is one of my favorite ways to serve it for casual summer food.
How to Store Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Before serving leftovers, stir well. If the pasta salad seems dry, add a little extra ranch dressing or buffalo sauce to freshen it up.
Food Safety Note
Because this pasta salad contains chicken, ranch, mayo, and cheese, keep it chilled until ready to serve.
Do not leave it out for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour if it is very hot outside.
More Summer Recipes to Try
Add your most relevant internal links here. I would use savory summer/cookout links, not desserts.
Suggested links:
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Italian Grinder Sliders
- Old English Crabbies
- 4th of July Appetizers
- Summer Appetizers
- Cookout Sides
FAQs
What is buffalo chicken pasta salad made of?
Buffalo chicken pasta salad is made with cooked pasta, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, mayo, cheddar cheese, celery, red bell pepper, green onions, and blue cheese.
Is buffalo chicken pasta salad served cold?
Yes. Buffalo chicken pasta salad is best served cold, which makes it perfect for summer cookouts, BBQs, picnics, beach days, and potlucks.
Can I make buffalo chicken pasta salad ahead of time?
Yes. You can make it a few hours ahead or the night before. If it seems dry after chilling, stir in a little extra ranch dressing or buffalo sauce before serving.
What pasta is best for buffalo chicken pasta salad?
Rotini is great because the spirals hold onto the creamy buffalo ranch dressing. You can also use penne, shells, bowties, cavatappi, or elbow macaroni.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut. Use about 3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken.
Can I use canned chicken?
Yes. Canned chicken works in a pinch. Drain it well and rinse it if desired, then break it up before mixing it into the pasta salad.
How much chicken do I need?
You need about 3 cups of shredded chicken. I used 1½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts, which was about 2 large chicken breasts.
What temperature should chicken be cooked to?
Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Can I leave out the blue cheese?
Yes. If you do not like blue cheese, you can leave it off or use extra cheddar instead.
What do you serve with buffalo chicken pasta salad?
Serve it with burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, BBQ, sliders, sandwiches, tortilla chips, deviled eggs, corn on the cob, or fruit.
Is buffalo chicken pasta salad good for a picnic?
Yes. It is a great picnic, beach day, baseball game, or potluck recipe. Just keep it chilled in a cooler until ready to eat.
Print
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 1x
Description
This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is a cold summer side dish made with rotini pasta, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch, cheddar cheese, celery, red bell pepper, green onions, and blue cheese. It is creamy, spicy, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for cookouts, BBQs, beach days, picnics, potlucks, baseball games, and summer parties.
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2 large breasts
- 3/4 cup buffalo sauce
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper, plus a little extra for garnish if desired
- 1/3 cup finely diced celery, plus a little extra for garnish if desired
- 4 tablespoons sliced green onions, plus extra for garnish
- 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, for topping
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled. Set aside.
- Add the chicken breasts to a pot of boiling water and boil for about 14 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it. You can shred it in a stand mixer or use two forks. This should give you about 3 cups of shredded chicken.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked and cooled rotini, shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, garlic powder, black pepper, shredded cheddar cheese, diced red bell pepper, diced celery, and sliced green onions.
- Mix until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer to a serving bowl or platter. Top with the reserved red bell pepper, celery, and green onions to make the salad look fresh and colorful.
- Sprinkle the crumbled blue cheese over the top.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
You can use rotisserie chicken instead of boiling and shredding chicken breasts.
You can also use canned chicken in a pinch. Drain it well, and rinsing it can help freshen up the flavor before mixing it into the salad.
Save a little celery, red bell pepper, and green onion for garnish. It makes the finished pasta salad look much more appetizing.
This is great for summer cookouts, beach days, picnics, potlucks, baseball games, and BBQs.
Serve with Masa tortilla chips for scooping.
Because this recipe contains chicken, ranch, mayo, and cheese, keep it chilled until ready to serve. Do not leave it out for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour in very hot weather.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: side
- Method: cold
- Cuisine: American
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