• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
An Edible Mosaic™
  • about
    • contact
    • accessibility
    • privacy policy
    • terms and conditions
  • cookbooks
  • recipes
  • world cuisine
    • arabic and middle eastern
    • asian
    • british
    • buffalo foods
    • czech
    • dutch
    • ethiopian
    • french
    • german
    • greek
    • indian
    • irish
    • italian
    • jamaican
    • jewish
    • latin
    • polish
    • russian and ukrainian
    • swedish
    • tex mex
    • thai
    • west african
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
  • cookies!
  • about
  • recipes
  • cookbooks
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • cookies!
    • about
    • recipes
    • cookbooks
    • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Cuisine » Buffalo Foods

    Quick and Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

    Published: May 9, 2022 · Modified: Jun 20, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    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

    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

    To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

    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 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes 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
    • ½ cup ranch dressing store-bought or homemade
    • ½ cup mayo
    • ¼ cup Frank’s RedHot sauce more or less to taste
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ 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
    • ¼ 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.

    More Buffalo Foods

    • buffalo roast beef on weck featured image
      Buffalo Beef on Weck Recipe Just Like Back Home
    • chiavetta's chicken marinade recipe featured image
      Copycat Chiavetta’s Marinade Recipe (The Best Chicken Marinade)
    • homemade mighty taco beef copycat recipe featured image
      Homemade Mighty Taco Beef Copycat - Same Flavor and Texture!
    • buffalo chicken dip featured image
      Extra Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip with a Kick {video}

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Dean says

      May 06, 2022 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect summer salad!

      Reply
    2. Kevin | Keviniscooking says

      July 03, 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 01, 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 01, 2016 at 11:03 am

      A lovely summer salad. Perfect for eating outdoors.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    faith photo with welcome

    Hi, I'm Faith!

    I’m the writer, recipe developer, photographer, and food stylist behind An Edible Mosaic. It’s my goal to inspire you to get in the kitchen, try something new, and find a favorite you didn’t know you had. Welcome to An Edible Mosaic!

    More About Faith →
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    Popular Recipes

    • boba milk tea featured image
      How to Make Bubble Tea (Easy Boba Tea Recipe)
    • mini victoria sponge cakes featured image
      Mini Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe - Fit for Royalty & Easy to Make as Cupcakes! {video}
    • canned chicken salad featured image
      Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
    • low carb chicken casserole featured image
      Keto Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole - Based on the Dip! {video}

    Seasonal Recipes

    • pear kale salad featured image
      Simple Pear Kale Salad with Candied Almonds and Crumbled Feta
    • slow cooker enchiladas featured image
      Really Easy Crockpot Enchiladas (Ground Beef Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole)
    • baked brie featured image
      20-Minute Elegant Baked Brie Recipe with Honeyed Grapes
    • caramel apple popcorn featured image
      Easy Caramel Apple Popcorn Recipe and a Fall-Themed Movie Night Snack Board

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Contact
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    an edible mosaic stamp logo 1200 square

    SEE RECIPE INDEX

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • RSS Feed

    My Other Blogs

    • Daily Desserting
    • The Keto Queens

    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 use and love.

    Copyright © 2023 An Edible Mosaic