High-Protein Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Creamy high-protein chicken bacon ranch pasta salad made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo! It’s packed with flavor and ready in just 30 minutes.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces dried protein pasta
- 12 ounces fully cooked chicken breast chopped or shredded
- 8 ounces turkey bacon or regular bacon (about 8 slices) cooked and crumbled
- 1-1½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange) diced
- 1 cup green onions sliced
- 1 cup shredded light cheddar cheese
For the Ranch Dressing:
- 1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning powder
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or more as needed
Instructions
- Cook the protein pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set it aside to cool.
- Add the drained, cooled pasta to a large bowl. Add the chopped cooked chicken, cooked and crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, diced bell pepper, sliced green onions, and shredded light cheddar cheese. Lightly toss to combine.
- In a separate bowl, mix the Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning powder. Add the milk as needed to thin the dressing to the desired consistency.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until evenly coated. Enjoy right away, or chill until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- Pasta to Use: I love using protein pasta, such as Kaizen or Brami, for another boost of protein without changing the flavor. You could swap in chickpea pasta, or if you don’t have protein pasta, this pasta salad will still be high-protein either way! You can use your favorite pasta or whole wheat pasta instead.
- Chicken: Chop or shred fully cooked chicken breast. Grill, bake, or air fry the chicken, or use our slow cooker shredded chicken recipe. Or, one of my favorite shortcuts is swapping in rotisserie chicken to save time!
- Bacon Options: We used turkey bacon for a lighter option, but regular bacon works too! See our guide on how to cook turkey bacon in the oven.
- Ranch Dressing: Make the dressing in this recipe with Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning powder for an easy and quick option. Or, make this recipe with our homemade healthy ranch dressing that uses fresh herbs. You can also use your favorite store-bought ranch dressing, if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 8.5g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 565mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g