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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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 also be made the day before for easy prep for a potluck or cookout.
Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients:
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 making garlic bread, frozen pizzas, biscuits, etc. It is one of my most used pans!
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 absorb some of the remaining grease.
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
What is your go-to side item for BBQs?? Do you make pasta salad? What do you put in it??
Amazing Pasta Salads
Are you looking for an easy pasta salad recipe? Check out my Easy Pasta Salad Recipe collection! (see it ->here.) Also, if you want more recipes to take to a potluck or cookout, see my post -> here.
- 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 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.
recipes using popcorn chicken
Popcorn chicken is one of those foods that my kids love! What goes with popcorn chicken? Or what to eat with popcorn chicken? Almost anything goes. As a mom, I love how easy this is to cook up to eat or put into a dish.
Popcorn Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 6 Slices Thick Cut Bacon
- 12 ounce Popcorn Chicken
- 16 Ounce Bow Tie Pasta
- Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- Mexican Cheese
- Salt
- 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.
Lea says
This looks delicious. Thank you.
Cassie says
This recipe not only looks easy to make but it looks absolutely delicious!
Mother of 3 says
This sounds so yummy! I love all of these ingredients individually so I’m sure I’d love them all put together!
Michelle says
WOW!
This looks fantastic!
Can’t wait to try!
Michelle
Audrey says
I am not sure my husband would appreciate the deliciousness of this dish, so I will just have to make it when he is working. More for me and my son, ha ha!
Sandra Garth says
Super easy to make, I love it! I’m always on the lookout for dishes that come together quickly and when my hungry kids come home for the holiday this will be perfect.
indah nuria savitri says
delicious indeeeed…would love to try it at home 🙂
Lisa says
I don’t personally like bacon, I can pick it out. I think when I make it, I will add onion! I adore onion! Thank you for sharing your pasta salads. They are my favorite to make. I also enjoy secondhand shopping. Happy Easter to You and Yours.