High Protein Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is creamy without being heavy, packed with protein, and easy enough to prep once and eat all week. It’s honestly even better on day 2 or 3.
Made with cooked chicken, protein pasta, and a lightened up dressing using light mayo + plain greek yogurt, this salad is a great healthier option that’ll keep you full and satisfied. Bonus: it’s also super easy, especially if you’re using a rotisserie chicken or other pre-cooked option. Here’s how I love to make it!
What You’ll Need
Equipment
- Large pot
- Cutting board and knife
- Large mixing bowl – this is my favorite big wooden one from Target.
Ingredients
- Protein or chickpea pasta: I’m using Banza chickpea pasta.
- Cooked chicken: For convenience, I usually use rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked chicken, or even canned chicken.
- Red onion
- Real bacon bits
- Sweet peas: Frozen or canned.
- Cheddar cheese
- Green onion
- Light mayo
- Non fat plain greek yogurt
- Ranch seasoning
- Apple cider vinegar
- Hot sauce optional
- Hickory liquid smoke: You can usually find this in the sauce aisle by the BBQ.
How To Make It
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to box instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Chop the rest: Finely chop up the chicken, onion, and green onion.
- Make the sauce: Add mayo, yogurt, ranch seasoning, vinegar, hot sauce, liquid smoke, and a few tablespoons of water to a mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Add more water if needed for desired consistency.
- Mix it all together: Add everything to a large bowl and mix until combined. I recommend letting it chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours before serving if you can!
Tips
- Onion: For a milder onion flavor, soak chopped red onion in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain well.
- Seasoning: Ranch seasonings vary by brand, so wait to add salt and pepper at the end only if needed. I always recommend seasoning everything to taste, just taste and adjust based on your preferences!
- Meal prepping: I’ve been loving these disposable meal prep containers lately, especially for my husband who takes them to work.
To Store
Store pasta salad in an airtight container (or individual containers for meal prep) in the fridge for 4-5 days. Enjoy cold straight out of the fridge!
You’ll Also Love
- High protein elote pasta salad
- Italian pasta salad
- Southwest dense bean salad
- High protein Southwest quinoa salad
- Chicken bacon ranch smash tacos
As always, be sure to leave a rating and review down below if you make this high protein chicken bacon ranch pasta salad! And don’t forget to tag me on insta – always love to hear from you guys and see what you’re making. ♡ Enjoy!
High Protein Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz protein or chickpea pasta (227 g) dry, any shape
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast (16 oz) chopped
- 2/3 cup red onion (100 g) finely minced
- 1 cup sweet peas (145 g) frozen or canned
- 1/2 cup real bacon bits (56 g)
- 2/3 cup cheddar cheese (56 g) shredded
- 1/4 cup green onion (18 g) thinly sliced
Lighter Ranch Sauce
- 3/4 cup light mayo (180 g)
- 3/4 cup non fat plain greek yogurt (170 g)
- 2 tbsp ranch seasoning
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (30 g)
- 1 tsp hot sauce optional
- 1/2 tsp hickory liquid smoke
- 3-4 tbsp water to thin
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Mix all ranch sauce ingredients together until smooth, plus water to thin (I usually add about 3 tablespoons).
- Add everything to a large mixing bowl and stir until combined. If time allows, chill in the fridge 2-3 hours before serving!
Notes
- For a milder onion flavor, soak chopped red onion in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain well.
- Every ranch seasoning is different so wait to add salt/pepper at the end if needed. Always season to taste!
Nutrition
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Where to get your meal prep brown containers?
Hi Dee,
The containers are linked towards the end of the blog post, under the “Tips” section!
If I wanted to put this into a measuring scoop how much would you use per serving to meet these macros listed? Just made it now I want to divide it up! Thank you so much!!!
Hi Taylor,
Sorry for the late reply! I’ve never measured this one out with a measuring cup so I couldn’t tell you exactly. When I don’t weigh, I just eyeball it into 6 equal portions!
I made this for lunches this week. I like that I had most of the ingredients on hand. It’s delicious and filling. I made it with Catelli protien pasta penne. It kept my glucose level in check.
Hi Sandra,
Glad you had most of the ingredients on hand! Thrilled you enjoyed, thanks for sharing. ♡
Im not a fan of greek yogurt, what’s a good substitute for it
Hi April,
You could do blended cottage cheese or even just use all light mayo!
DELICIOUS!! Had to recommend to all of my friends.
Hi Astrid,
YAY ♡ thrilled to hear this, so glad you enjoyed!
Holy moly, this is sooo good! 🤤 It hits the spot immediately, perfectly balanced without feeling heavy. I love the mix of freshness (peas, onions) and smokey (bacon bits, liquid smoke, hot sauce) so much. I have never felt the urge to rate a recipe, but for this one – I had to!
Some notes:
(1) I don’t really like Greek yogurt and was worried about mixing that with mayo – I cannot taste it at all! Blew my mind Don’t let that scare you from trying this recipe
(2) Barilla Protein Pasta is my favorite, used penne because they don’t have shells and it was great!
(3) A dash of Tabasco (Chipotle version) works so well to add another element of smokey
So glad you loved this one! You really can’t taste the greek yogurt at all. Thanks for sharing! ♡
I cannot stop eating this, it’s so delicious!! My husband loves it too! This will definitely be a new summer go-to.
Hi Morgan,
Oh good!! I’m glad it’s been a hit, thanks for making this one!
YUM!!! I loved it. I used a rotisserie chicken instead, turned out amazing and was so easy!! I think with the extra chicken I would do 2 boxes of pasta, but I will know for next time :) DELISH!!
Hey Nicole,
So glad you loved this one! Thanks so much for sharing. ♡
Made this tonight for meal prep and absolutely loved it! Like others have said, it’s great even if you’re not a greek yogurt fan. I used whole wheat pasta that I had and it worked great. Thank you so much!!
Hi Laura,
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for sharing. ♡
It’s a solid choice!
I use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon sometimes
Hi Masha,
Yum, sounds delicious!