Chicken BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
If a classic BLT and a pasta salad had a baby, with chicken and ranch invited to the party, this would be it. This Chicken BLT Pasta Salad is packed with tender chicken, crisp bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomatoes, all tossed in creamy ranch dressing. And the best part? It’s on the table in about 20 minutes, making it the perfect hearty main dish salad for busy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne about 2 ½ cups
- 1 lb thin sliced chicken breasts
- 10 strips pre-cooked bacon
- 3 cups romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- 3 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, cook pasta al dente according to the package directions, usually 10-12 minutes. Drain and rinse with cool water.8 oz penne
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook in a nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat, about 3-4 minutes on each side. Chop into bite-sized pieces.1 lb thin sliced chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon salt , nonstick cooking spray , ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Crisp up the bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat for a couple of minutes per side. Place on a paper towel-lined plate, when cool chop into smaller pieces.10 strips pre-cooked bacon
- Cut the tomatoes in half and chop lettuce if not using pre-chopped.1 cup cherry tomatoes , 3 cups romaine lettuce
- Mix the ranch dressing and milk together.3 tablespoon milk , 1 cup ranch dressing
- Add everything to a large bowl and toss to combine.
Tips for success
See ingredient notes above for more details and options for each ingredient.
I buy the 2.1 ounce package of Great Value pre-cooked bacon.
Time-Saving Tip: Put the pasta pot on first thing! While the water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, make the most of your time—cook the chicken, crisp the bacon, chop the tomatoes, and whip up the dressing. You can even chop the cooked chicken and bacon during this time. Once the pasta’s done, all that’s left is mixing everything together!
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*Nutritional information is automatically calculated and is only an estimate. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients and specific brands you use. If nutrition is important to you, I recommend using a calculator you trust.
Just toggle to the metric version to view the measurements in grams, milliliters, and more!
Why do you include metric measurements?
While the U.S. still mostly uses cups and tablespoons, the rest of the world uses metric. I include both to make my recipes easier for everyone—no conversions needed! The metric amounts are calculated automatically and work great for everyday cooking. Since these recipes aren’t for baking (where exact weights really matter), a few grams one way or the other won’t hurt a thing.Nutrition
Serving: 1/6th of recipeCalories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 27gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 876mgPotassium: 581mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2224IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
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