This Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad is like buffalo wings crashed a backyard cookout and decided to stick around. It's bold, a little fiery, creamy in all the right ways, and somehow still feels refreshing when it's hot outside.
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I've got a thing for buffalo sauce! I did my first Whole30 back in 2017 and that is where my buffalo love affair started. So when I say this pasta salad is one of my favorites for game day snacks, cookouts, or even just a random Tuesday night, I mean it. It's basically everything I love about buffalo wings without the messy fingers. Plus, it doubles as an appetizer, side dish, or full meal depending on how you load it up. I love making this for cookouts or game day, along with my buffalo turkey meatballs. You can also pair this with fried shrimp for a delicious weeknight meal.
This one disappears fast every single time I make it, and for good reason. Come along and see how simple it is to make this showstopper!
Ingredients
Substitutions
Pasta- Chickpea pasta is what gives this recipe so much protein. Any brand and shape of chickpea pasta will work.
Ranch- I use Primal Kitchen's ranch to keep this recipe dairy free but any type of ranch works.
Buffalo sauce- My favorite hot sauce to use is Franks, but you can use any brand and heat level of buffalo sauce you like.
How can I add even more protein?
Want to bulk it up into a full meal? Toss in shredded rotisserie chicken or some grilled chicken. If you're skipping the meat, white beans or chickpeas would go great and keep it hearty.
How do I keep chickpea pasta from getting mushy?
Chickpea pasta is a little tricky, but totally doable. Cook it just shy of the package time, usually 6-8 minutes is plenty, and then rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking. It keeps its bite that way.
Step by step
- Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- While that's cooking, dice up your celery, bell pepper, and green onion.
- Whisk together ranch, buffalo sauce, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Taste. Want more heat? Add it.
- In a big bowl, combine the pasta and veggies, then pour the dressing on and toss until everything is coated.
- Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Save some dressing. The pasta loves to drink it all up while it sits. Stir in a little extra before serving and it'll taste fresh again.
- Watch your heat. Buffalo sauces aren't all made equal some are mild, some light your lips on fire. Start small and adjust.
- Don't skip the chill. Even 30 minutes in the fridge makes a huge difference. If you've got the patience, longer is even better.
- Add some cheese. Adding blue cheese crumbles or fresh mozzarella in this would be so good!
Storing and leftovers
Pop any leftovers in an airtight container and stash them in the fridge for 3-4 days. The pasta will soak up dressing as it sits, so freshen it up with an extra spoon of ranch or a drizzle of buffalo sauce before digging back in.
If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a star rating or drop a comment below. Your feedback means so much to me! And if you snap a photo, tag me on Instagram at @kaleenas.kitchen so I can see your version!
Recipe
Buffalo Ranch Protein Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package chickpea protein pasta
- 1 stalk celery diced
- ยฝ red bell pepper diced
- 1 green onion diced
Dressing
- โ cup ranch *I use Primal Kitchen's Ranch to keep this dairy free
- 3 tablespoons buffalo sauce *I use Frank's Original Hot Sauce
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon dried dill
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- ยผ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- While that's cooking, dice up your celery, bell pepper, and green onion.
- Whisk together ranch, buffalo sauce, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Taste. Want more heat? Add some more buffalo sauce.
- In a big bowl, combine the pasta and veggies, then pour the dressing on and toss until everything is coated.
- Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
-
- Save some dressing. The pasta loves to drink it all up while it sits. Stir in a little extra before serving and it'll taste fresh again.
-
- Watch your heat. Buffalo sauces aren't all made equal some are mild, some light your lips on fire. Start small and adjust.
-
- Don't skip the chill. Even 30 minutes in the fridge makes a huge difference. If you've got the patience, longer is even better.
-
- Add some cheese. Adding blue cheese crumbles or fresh mozzarella in this would be so good!
Nutrition
*nutrition information is an approximate
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Hi, I'm Kaleena!
I'm a 30-something wife and dog mom who shares mostly gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30, and Paleo-friendly recipes. Since doing my first Whole30 in 2017, I have completely changed my way of cooking. I love to create recipes made from real, flavorful ingredients that the whole family will love!
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