Crispy Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad (Print-Friendly)

Tender pasta, crispy chicken, and creamy ranch dressing combine in this refreshing, easy-to-make salad perfect for any occasion.

# 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 (or 1 teaspoon dried)
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 a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in length.
03 - Place flour in one shallow bowl. Crack eggs into a second shallow bowl and beat well. In a third shallow bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
04 - Dredge each chicken piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into beaten egg, then coat thoroughly in the panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
05 - Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. 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, fresh parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice until smooth and fully combined.
07 - Add cooked pasta, thawed peas, diced bell pepper, and sliced green onions to the bowl with ranch dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
08 - Gently fold in crispy chicken pieces immediately before serving to preserve crispness. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes for a chilled salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crispy chicken stays remarkably crunchy even dressed, a trick I learned after serving soggy versions for years
  • Everything can be prepped ahead except the final toss, making it stress-free for hosting
  • The homemade ranch is so much brighter than bottled and takes literally three minutes
02 -
  • Never add the chicken until you are ready to serve, or it will lose its signature crunch within an hour
  • The dressing tastes significantly better after sitting for 30 minutes, so make it first
  • Overcrowding the pan while frying chicken drops the oil temperature and makes the coating soggy
03 -
  • Let the breaded chicken rest for 10 minutes before frying to help the coating adhere better
  • Season the pasta water generously since the pasta itself carries flavor throughout the salad
  • Pat the chicken pieces completely dry before breading or the coating will slide right off
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