Turn up the heat on boring pasta salad with this Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad recipe! Bold blue cheese, spicy buffalo sauce, tender chicken and al dente pasta - what could be better? Plus we have gluten-free, vegetarian and low fat options!
If you love buffalo chicken wings, then you won't want to miss this Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad. It takes all of the flavors of your go-to game day dish and elevates to it a fantastic summer side dish.
All of your favorite ingredients are here - blue cheese, celery, chicken, buffalo sauce - with the added tang of sour cream and green onions. It's soooo good!
Not a meat eater? We have a vegetarian version too. Watching your weight? Try the low-fat version. Can't eat gluten? We've got one for you too! Do not miss out on how delicious this dish is.
Shopping List
- pasta - I used rotini but penne, elbows or even bowties all work fine)
- cooked chicken - you can use a rotisserie chicken from the store, or left over Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken
- green onions and celery
- crumbled blue cheese - or mozzarella or cheddar if you prefer
- Buffalo wing sauce
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- granulated garlic
- onion powder
How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
This is meant to be a brief overview of the recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
- Boil the pasta in lightly salted water. Drain in a colander and rinse for several minutes with cold water to cool.
- Chop the chicken into bite-size pieces and place it in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the buffalo wing sauce and stir.
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients and spices to the mixing bowl. Add more buffalo sauce to taste.
- Fold in pasta, blue cheese, green onions, and celery until well incorporated.
- Covered and refrigerate until ready to serve.
What can you add to Pasta Salad?
Personalize this pasta salad! Here are a few ideas recipe variations you might like:
- Swap out the blue cheese for mozzarella or cheddar
- Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika for a smokier flavor
- Substitute the mayonnaise and sour cream for Ranch dressing
Recipe Variations
- Low Fat: Omit the mayonnaise and sour cream and use nonfat plain Greek yogurt instead.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta.
- Vegetarian: Omit the chicken and add ½ cup of diced red and green bell peppers, 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes, and add ½ cup of diced red onion.
More Amazing Side Dishes
Grilled Corn on the Cob always makes a great side dish, of course, but if you're looking for something a little more out-of-the-box, give one of these tasty recipes a try:
More Spicy Buffalo Recipes
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Crescent Ring
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Best Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Buffalo Chicken Soup
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Not ready to make it yet? Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 1 Box of Rotini or other pasta
- 3-4 Cups Chicken cooked
- ½ Cup Green Onions sliced
- ½ Cup Celery diced
- ½ Cup Blue Cheese crumbled
- ¼- ½ Cup Buffalo Wing Sauce
- ⅓ Cup Mayonnaise
- ⅓ Cup Sour Cream
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in lightly salted water according to package directions. When done, drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process.
- As the pasta cooks, chop your chicken into bite-size pieces. In a large mixing bowl, combine some buffalo wing sauce and the chicken. Stir to coat.
- Add in the mayonnaise, sour cream, onion powder, and garlic powder. Add more buffalo wing sauce to taste and mix thoroughly.
- Toss in the pasta and stir to coat thoroughly. Then fold in blue cheese, green onions and celery.
- Cover and refrigerated until ready to serve.
Notes
Storing
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.Recipe Variations
Personalize this pasta salad! Here are a few ideas recipe variations you might like:- Swap out the blue cheese for mozzarella or cheddar
- Add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika for a smokier flavor
- Substitute the mayonnaise and sour cream for Ranch dressing
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