Buffalo Ranch Protein Pasta Salad
This Buffalo Ranch Protein Pasta Salad is creamy, spicy, and loaded with fresh crunch. A gluten free, high protein side dish that’s perfect for meal prep or parties.
Ingredients
- 1 package chickpea protein pasta
- 1 stalk celery diced
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 1 green onion diced
Dressing
- ⅓ cup ranch *I use Primal Kitchen's Ranch to keep this dairy free
- 3 tablespoons buffalo sauce *I use Frank's Original Hot Sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ 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
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.
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.
Tips
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- 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.
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- Watch your heat. Buffalo sauces aren’t all made equal some are mild, some light your lips on fire. Start small and adjust.
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- 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.
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- Add some cheese. Adding blue cheese crumbles or fresh mozzarella in this would be so good!
Nutrition
Calories: 162kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 6gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 278IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.1mg
*nutrition information is an approximate
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