Crispy Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Tender pasta with crispy chicken bites, fresh vegetables, and creamy homemade ranch dressing for a satisfying cold salad.

# What You 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:

01 - Boil salted water and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain thoroughly, rinse under cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.
02 - Cut chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized pieces 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 chicken piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg, allowing excess to drip off, then press into panko mixture to coat evenly.
05 - Heat ½ inch oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches, turning once, for 3-4 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 a large bowl until smooth and creamy.
07 - Add cooked pasta, thawed peas, diced bell pepper, and sliced green onions to the dressing. Toss thoroughly until evenly coated.
08 - Gently fold fried chicken into the salad just before serving to preserve crunch. Serve immediately or refrigerate 30 minutes for a chilled version.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crispy chicken stays perfectly crunchy even when tossed with the creamy dressing thanks to the panko coating trick
  • It hits every craving at once salty, creamy, fresh, and satisfying without being too heavy
02 -
  • The chicken absolutely must be completely cooled before you toss it with the dressing, or the steam will make that beautiful breading soggy within minutes
  • Overcrowding the pan when frying the chicken will make it greasy and sad instead of crispy, so work in batches and give each piece room
03 -
  • Season every layer, not just the dressing, because the chicken, pasta water, and vegetables all need their own salt to make the final dish pop
  • Let the dressed pasta sit for at least 15 minutes before serving, which gives the pasta time to drink in some of that dressing
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