Light Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad

Name: Light Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 oz chickpea pasta orecchiette or shells (I used Banza ChickPea pasta ); 1.5 lbs chicken breast (cut into 6 thinner pieces); 2 tbsp ranch seasoning (I used salt-free; if you use one with salt, only use 1 tbsp); 8 slices center cut bacon; 1 red onion (large, chopped); 3 cups cherry tomatoes (halved); 4 scallions (chopped); 1/3 cup ranch dressing (used: Primal Kitchen Ranch for dairy free); 1/3 cup plain non-fat yogurt (I use cashew yogurt for dairy free); 1 tsp ranch seasoning

August 4, 2023 By Steph 27 Comments

jump to recipe print recipe

Talk about the best of both words: this might be my new favorite meal prep for lunch. Bacon, ranch, chicken, and pasta. What more could one possibly need in a meal? This loaded pasta salad has it all: crispy cooked bacon, ranch seasoned chicken, roasted red onions, pasta, and ranch dressing. This is the perfect meal prep for the summertime, or quite frankly, year round, plus macro and WW friendly. Light bacon ranch chicken pasta salad is a must make!

What you’ll need to make this light bacon ranch chicken pasta salad

orecchiette or small shell-shaped pasta
- to keep this gluten free, I use this chickpea based pasta Shells (eatbanza.com)
center cut bacon
chicken breast
cherry tomatoes
red onion
scallions
ranch seasoning
- I used a ranch seasoning that is dairy free and salt free: dairy free ranch seasoning
- If you use a traditional ranch seasoning with salt, you will have to cut back on the amount
ranch dressing
- for dairy free, I recommend this one: Ranch Dressing
- for a lower fat option, macro and WW-friendly, I recommend this one: Ranch Dressing
plain non-fat yogurt
- for dairy free, I used cashew yogurt: Dairy Free Yogurt

What makes this recipe “light,” anyway?

A few factors “lighten up” this recipe:

using center cut bacon instead of traditional bacon
- center cut bacon is leaner and has less fat on it, even though it is traditional pork bacon
using yogurt to stretch the ranch dressing
no use of oils
using 4 servings of pasta, but spread over 6 servings of this recipe (since we add the chicken and vegetables, the serving size is a whopping 2 cups, even though it’s only about 2/3 of a standard serving of pasta)

Perfect for meal prep lunch

This chicken pasta salad makes for the perfect lunch meal prep. It is easy to portion into six large servings (2 cups each!) and is packed with all of the key macronutrients: protein, fiber, carbs, and fat! This salad is built to keep you full and satisfied. And at just under 400 calories per serving and 6 WW points, it is a great meal to fit into your day and lifestyle.

This chicken pasta salad is also ideal for lunch meal prep because it requires no reheating, which is convenient for everyone. Simply portion out your serving, throw it in your lunch bag, and when it’s time for lunch, simply enjoy. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

In addition, this recipe is super adaptable: if you are dairy free, use the recommendations I have linked above. Otherwise, use your favorite ranch seasoning blend, dressing, and any yogurt that works for you! You can also use any pasta that you enjoy, or what works for your dietary needs.