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Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese Crunch

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A quick and easy buffalo chicken pasta salad combining spicy buffalo sauce, creamy blue cheese, and crunchy fresh veggies for a flavorful and satisfying dish perfect for potlucks and weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great!)
  • ½ cup buffalo wing sauce (recommend Frank’s RedHot)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing if cooking chicken fresh)
  • 8 ounces rotini pasta (about 225 grams), cooked al dente and cooled
  • 1 cup celery, finely chopped
  • ½ cup green onions, sliced thinly
  • ½ cup shredded carrots (optional)
  • 1 cup blue cheese crumbles (small-curd preferred)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
  2. If using pre-cooked chicken, shred or dice about 2 cups. If cooking fresh, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add diced chicken, and cook until no longer pink (about 6-7 minutes). Remove from heat and toss with ½ cup buffalo wing sauce until evenly coated. Let cool slightly.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  4. Add the buffalo chicken to the pasta bowl. Toss in 1 cup chopped celery, ½ cup sliced green onions, and ½ cup shredded carrots if using. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently fold to combine evenly.
  5. Sprinkle 1 cup blue cheese crumbles on top. Reserve some crumbles to scatter just before serving for extra crunch.
  6. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Before serving, gently toss and adjust seasoning or add more buffalo sauce or dressing if desired.

Notes

Use dairy-free mayo and yogurt for lactose-free version. Swap rotini for gluten-free pasta if needed. If blue cheese is not preferred, feta can be used but flavor will differ. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors. Add blue cheese and celery fresh before serving for best crunch. Adjust buffalo sauce amount to control spiciness. Rinse pasta after cooking to prevent clumping.

Nutrition

Keywords: buffalo chicken, pasta salad, blue cheese, easy recipe, party food, quick dinner, game day, creamy dressing, spicy chicken

Find it online: https://yumbelle.com/buffalo-chicken-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-with-blue-cheese-crunch/