Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad

This super easy Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad was a hit when we made it for the Fourth of July!! Now, this is a recipe you need in your arsenal for easy potluck side dishes. This was put together in less than 30 minutes – and only took that long due to cooking the chicken. 

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Now I loved the chicken, ranch, bacon, cheese, and pasta flavor combination.  This was the perfect side dish to pair up with the ribs that day! Plus, who doesn’t love an easy side dish recipe? This can be made the day before as well for easy prep for a potluck or cookout.   

Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients:

• Bacon 
• Popcorn Chicken
• Bow Tie Pasta 
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Mexican Shredded Cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

How To Make Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad:

Preheat your oven and cook the chicken according to the directions on the bag.  I placed mine on a pizza stone for baking the popcorn!

I use a pizza stone for everything, and I love that, over the years, they have gotten more affordable.  Over the years, I have used my pizza stone for making garlic bread, frozen pizzas, biscuits, etc. it is one of my most used pans!  You can order one from Amazon for under $20 with Amazon prime to your house in 2 days; no need to even have to leave the house, order and bam UPS man is at the door with Amazon Prime!!

Boil water and prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box.

Strain your pasta and it to cool. I stuck mine in the freezer while making the bacon.

Cut your slices of bacon down and fry up on the stovetop. You could use bacon bits, but I love fresh juicy bacon.

Once your bacon is done, remove it and set it on paper towels to help to absorb some of the remaining grease of the bacon.

When the popcorn chicken is done, cut the pieces in half.

Reserve some bacon, cheese, and popcorn chicken to garnish the top of the salad.

In a large bowl, combine the ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

Mix and add more ranch as needed if the salad seems dry.

Place in a serving dish and garnish with the remaining bacon, cheese, and popcorn chicken.

Pop the dish into the refrigerator and refrigerate until serving. It tastes great when it has had time to have the flavors combined.

How To Store Leftover Ranch Popcorn Pasta Salad

Store in an air-tight container for up to three days in the fridge,

What to serve with ranch popcorn pasta salad

• Oreo Fluff
• Pink Fluff
• Potato Salad
• Smore’s Cookies

What is your go-to side item for BBQs?? Do you make pasta salad? What do you put in it??

Amazing Pasta Salads

• Pizza Pasta Salad– Use rotini pasta with Italian dressing to take your pizza toppings to the next level in an easy pasta salad.
• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad– Use rotini pasta paired with bacon, cheese, and ranch to make this pasta salad!
• Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad– Simple but classic macaroni salad; dill pickles add to the flavor of this pasta salad.

5 from 1 vote

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Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad

This Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad is perfect to take to a get together or BBQ!! Combine ranch, popcorn chicken, and bacon into a pasta salad a sure fire hit!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword bowtie pasta, cheese, Chicken, mayo, Pasta Salad, popcorn chicken, Ranch

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 12

Author Jenny

Ingredients

• 6 Slices Thick Cut Bacon
• 12 ounce Popcorn Chicken
• 16 Ounce Bow Tie Pasta
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Mexican Cheese
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven and cook the chicken according to the directions on the bag. I placed mine on a pizza stone for baking the popcorn!
2. Boil water and prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box.
3. Strain your pasta and it to cool. I stuck mine in the freezer while making the bacon.
4. Cut your slices of bacon down and fry up on the stove top. You could use bacon bits, but I love fresh juicy bacon.
5. Once your bacon is done, remove and set it on paper towels to help to absorb some of the reaming grease of the bacon.
6. When the popcorn chicken is done, cut the pieces in half.
7. Reserve some bacon, cheese, and popcorn chicken to garnish the top of the salad.
8. In a large bowl, combine the ingredients. I layered mine to help with mixing by doing pasta, chicken, bacon, cheese, ranch, then repeating, all while salting and peppering to taste.
9. Mix together. Keep adding whatever ingredient you want more of. I went easy on the ranch until I saw how it was coming together.
10. Place in a serving dish and garnish with the remaining bacon, cheese, and popcorn chicken.
11. Pop in the refrigerator. It tastes great when it has had time to have the flavors combine.
12. Now, seriously, there are so many different variations and spins you can put on this!! Change the flavor of ranch, type of cheese, flavors of popcorn chicken, etc. Plus the add-ons are endless as well.