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Creamy Avocado Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad. Homemade, creamy buttermilk ranch dressing tossed together with pasta, shredded chicken, plenty of sweet cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and cubes of sharp cheddar cheese. Salsa verde gives this creamy pasta salad a spicy, delicious kick. Then, finish with crispy bacon and sliced avocado. YUM! This easy salad will surely become a staple in your kitchen this spring and summer! It comes together quickly andwith very little effort. Enjoy this for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch. Or serve it up at your next spring/summer party, it’s always delicious.
It’s not often that I hold on to recipes this long before sharing them. But with over a month of travel coming up, I’m working to create some recipes in advance. I made this a couple of weeks ago and have been patiently waiting to share.
It’s become a family favorite. This is such a yummy pasta salad—it’s unique in the best way possible.
I created this with the idea of spring entertaining in mind, but honestly, I’ve made this for dinner on multiple occasions now. I served it slightly warm, and everyone just loved it.
Of course, this will be great as a salad for outdoor picnics, sides, or for your holiday dinner parties. And the leftovers are so great for lunch!
I’m sharing my easy homemade ranch dressing too. It’s my go-to and super delicious when tossed up with pasta.
These are the details
Step 1: mix the dressing
For my ranch dressing, I love to use either plain Greek yogurt or sour cream mixed with mayo. I add dried parsley, chives, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Then, I add Worcestershire and buttermilk.
It’s the perfect ranch dressing—light and creamy, heavy on the herb mix, and just perfectly salted. I know you will love it.
Step 2: cook the pasta and toss the salad
Next, boil off your favorite shortcut pasta. Add the steaming pasta to a big bowl. Then, while it’s still hot, toss the pasta with the salsa verde, and shredded chicken.
Now pour over the dressing and toss it all up, make sure the creamy ranch coats each noodle and piece of chicken. I know the salsa verde sounds random, but the flavor it adds is wonderful. Trust me, it’s delish.
Step 3: the rest of the salad
Finish tossing the salad with cubes of sharp cheddar cheese, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and fresh cilantro.
Top the salad off with crispy bacon and slices of creamy avocado.
This hits all the flavors, and it’s the first dish to disappear on any buffet table!
I know I say this just about every day, but this recipe really is good. It’s one of those dishes you’ll crave time and time again. The creamy dressing with the pasta, spicy salsa, cheese, avocado, and bacon is the yummiest.
Looking for other salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Caprese Caesar Pasta Salad
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Greek Olive Pasta Salad
Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad
Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad
Melon Basil Burrata Salad
Lastly, if you make this Creamy Avocado Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 540 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- salt and black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk, plus more as needed
Salad
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1/2 cup salsa verde
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cubed spicy cheddar cheese (optional)
- 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 avocado, diced
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Thin as desired with buttermilk.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the hot pasta, salsa verde, and chicken. Pour over the dressing and toss well to combine. Add the cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and bacon. Toss, then top with avocado.
4. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
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