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Home » Cuisine » Buffalo Foods » Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

May 9, 2022 by Faith 4 Comments

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Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combines chicken, carrots + celery, and pasta in a creamy, zippy sauce! It’s a perfect side dish for a summer picnic or potluck, and it can also be a full meal if you add a big green salad.

buffalo chicken pasta salad

Being a native Buffalonian means anything related to Buffalo chicken is pure comfort food for me.

During high school I worked in a pizzeria, which was without a doubt the most fun job I’ve ever had before my transition to becoming a full-time blogger. We were always busy, continuously running around juggling orders, customers, and food prep. But most shifts went by in a snap!

buffalo chicken pasta salad recipe

And not to mention, break time always involved good food. Greek chicken salad. Chicken finger subs slathered with blue cheese sauce and a side of BBQ for dipping. Steak bombers with extra onion and a drizzle of hot sauce. White pizza with tomatoes and spinach. YUM. But back to Buffalo chicken.

It seems like the Buffalo chicken craze has taken over the food world. In terms of “Buffalo” flavor, you can find everything from dip, to grilled cheese sandwiches, to casseroles. You can’t go wrong with just about anything related to Buffalo chicken, pasta salad included.

easy buffalo chicken pasta salad

In This Article

  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • The Best Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Buffalo Sauce – What is Buffalo Sauce Made Of?
  • More Pasta Salad Recipes to Try
  • Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s a great way to reinvent leftover chicken! And it’s also the perfect use for rotisserie chicken.
  • You can use just about any small-ish shape of pasta that you like. I used cavatappi pasta, but rigatoni, fusilli, penne, bowties, shells, and elbow noodles all work well.
  • The sauce couldn’t be easier to mix up! It’s a combination of ranch, mayo, and Frank’s RedHot sauce.
creamy buffalo chicken pasta salad

The Best Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

You will go crazy for this side dish! It’s easy to make, whips up fast, and is always a crowd-pleaser.

Here we keep the vegetables simple and add what would be served with Buffalo chicken wings: carrot and celery! Additionally, we use a little scallion to bump up the savory flavor.

The sauce is just a simple mix of mayo, ranch, and hot sauce with a little salt and black pepper to enhance it.

And let’s not forget the blue cheese on top! A little goes a long way, and of course if you prefer you can skip the blue cheese and go with shredded cheddar instead.

Ingredients

buffalo chicken pasta salad ingredients
  • Pasta, such as cavatappi, rigatoni, fusilli, penne, bowties, shells, or elbows
  • Cooked chopped chicken (leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken work well)
  • Celery
  • Carrot
  • Scallion
  • Ranch
  • Mayo
  • Frank’s RedHot sauce
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Crumbled blue cheese (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

how to make buffalo chicken pasta salad
  1. Add the ranch dressing, mayo, Frank’s RedHot sauce, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl.
  2. Mix well to combine the dressing.
  3. Add the cooked pasta, cooked chicken, scallion, celery, and carrot to a large bowl. Pour the dressing on top.
  4. Stir well to combine. Right before serving, sprinkle the blue cheese on top.

How to Store Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Store this pasta salad covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

buffalo chicken pasta salad graphic

Buffalo Sauce – What is Buffalo Sauce Made Of?

For me, my pizzeria job during high school in Buffalo demystified “Buffalo” sauce. Real Buffalo sauce (i.e., the original version that you’ll find in Buffalo!) is just a combo of Frank’s Redhot sauce and melted butter. Those two ingredients are combined in varying ratios to make it hot, medium, or mild.

Authentic Buffalo sauce doesn’t contain seasonings, such as garlic powder or Worcestershire sauce.

At the pizzeria where I worked, mild and medium sauces also had a touch of ketchup added in for a hint of sweetness to help mellow out the hot sauce, which additionally contributes a touch of a vinegary tang that I love.

They also offered what they called “suicidal” wings, which were wings tossed with straight hot sauce doused in cayenne pepper. I was too chicken – pardon the pun – to even try them, lol!

buffalo chicken pasta salad with blue cheese

More Pasta Salad Recipes to Try

  • Mediterranean Pasta Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Creamy Sweet Macaroni Salad
  • Warm Caramelized Leek Pasta Salad with Bacon and Goat Cheese
homemade buffalo chicken pasta salad

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you!
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
xoxo, Faith

creamy buffalo chicken pasta salad featured image

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

By: Faith Gorsky
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad combines chicken, carrots + celery, and pasta in a creamy, zippy sauce for the perfect side dish!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 servings
Calories 270 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 ounces cavatappi pasta or any bite-sized pasta shape you like
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing store-bought or homemade
  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/4 cup Frank’s RedHot sauce more or less to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups cooked chopped chicken rotisserie chicken works well
  • 3 scallions green and white parts, thinly sliced
  • 2 medium celery stalks diced
  • 1 large carrot shredded
  • 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions; rinse and drain.
  • Add the ranch dressing, mayo, Frank’s RedHot sauce, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl. Mix well to combine.
  • Add the cooked pasta, cooked chicken, scallion, celery, and carrot to a large bowl. Pour the dressing on top and stir well to combine.
  • Right before serving, sprinkle the blue cheese on top.

Faith’s Tips

  • Pasta Shape: You can use just about any small-ish shape of pasta that you like. I used cavatappi pasta, but rigatoni, fusilli, penne, bowties, shells, and elbow noodles all work well.
  • Blue Cheese Substitute: If you prefer you can skip the blue cheese and use shredded cheddar instead.
  • Storage: Store this pasta salad covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 270 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 35mg12%
Sodium 621mg27%
Potassium 188mg5%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 1285IU26%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad, Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
buffalo chicken pasta salad pin

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on July 1, 2016. I updated it with more information on May 9, 2022.

Filed Under: Buffalo Foods, Pasta Salads, Side Dishes Tagged: Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad, Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

Comments

  1. Dean says

    May 6, 2022 at 4:00 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect summer salad!

    Reply
  2. Kevin | Keviniscooking says

    July 3, 2016 at 4:29 pm

    What a great idea, especially for these hot days. I love Buffalo wings and Frank’s in in my pantry!

    Reply
  3. Marissa says

    July 1, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    This salad is perfect for all of those 4th of July picnics going on this weekend! I love farfalle in salads and soups – perfect shape for this salad. I’ve always been a sucker for buffalo chicken tenders, but this may steal the top spot!

    Happy 4th of July, sweet Faith! Have a wonderful weekend…

    Reply
  4. Rosa says

    July 1, 2016 at 11:03 am

    A lovely summer salad. Perfect for eating outdoors.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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