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I can’t believe it’s November and I am just now sharing this super easy Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad we made for the Fourth of July!! It seems like things have been never ending since then. But 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. Both adults and kids will love this. Personally, I loved the flavor combination of the chicken, ranch, bacon, and pasta, and it was nice and cool on a hot summer day! You can’t get much easier than this and it looks like you worked forever on it! (I have included links to some great products that I have bought on my own and love. You can buy them too through my online sales links.)

Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients:

6 slices of thick cut bacon
Half a bag of frozen of popcorn chicken
1 box of bow tie pasta (or pasta of your choice, but bow tie is the kids’ favorite)
Buttermilk ranch dressing
Mexican shredded cheese
Salt and pepper

Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad Directions:

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. I use my stone for making garlic bread, chocolate chip cake, frozen pizzas, making biscuits, etc it is one of my most used pans! I love that you can order one from Amazon of under $20 with Amazon prime to your house in 2 days, you don’t even have to leave the house, order and bam UPS man is at the door with Amazon Prime!!

Good Cook Pizza Stone with Rack

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 stove top. You could use bacon bits, but I love fresh juicy bacon.

Once your bacon is done, remove and set it on paper towels to help to absorb some of the reaming 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. I layered mine to help with mixing by doing pasta, chicken, bacon, cheese, ranch, then repeating, all while salting and peppering to taste.

Mix together. Keep adding whatever ingredient you want more of. I went easy on the ranch until I saw how it was coming together.

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

Pop in the refrigerator. It tastes great when it has had time to have the flavors combine.

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. I can’t wait to make this for more potlucks next year!

What is your go-to side item for BBQ’s?? Do you make a pasta salad? What do you put in it??

5 from 1 vote

Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients

6 slices of thick cut bacon
Half a bag of frozen of popcorn chicken
1 box of bow tie pasta or pasta of your choice, but bow tie is the kids' favorite
Buttermilk ranch dressing
Mexican shredded cheese
Salt and pepper

Instructions

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!
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 stove top. You could use bacon bits, but I love fresh juicy bacon.
Once your bacon is done, remove and set it on paper towels to help to absorb some of the reaming 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. I layered mine to help with mixing by doing pasta, chicken, bacon, cheese, ranch, then repeating, all while salting and peppering to taste.
Mix together. Keep adding whatever ingredient you want more of. I went easy on the ranch until I saw how it was coming together.
Place in a serving dish and garnish with the remaining bacon, cheese, and popcorn chicken.
Pop in the refrigerator. It tastes great when it has had time to have the flavors combine.
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.