Light Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad

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!

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Keyword pasta salad

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Servings

Calories 410kcal

Author Steph

Equipment

pasta pot
sheet pan lined with parchment paper
large mixing bowl

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

Dressing

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

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Slice the chicken into 6 thinner pieces, and season with the ranch seasoning on all sides.
Arrange the chicken on the baking sheet to one side. Add the bacon to the other side.
Chop the onion and add it to the baking sheet. Spray the top with more cooking spray.
Bake at 425F for about 20 minutes, or until the onions are tender, and the chicken is cooked through, and bacon is crispy.
Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
In the meantime, bring a large pot with salted water to boil.
Add the pasta and cook according to package directions, and drain when cooked.
Chop the scallions and half the cherry tomatoes. Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Add the pasta, chicken, cooked onions, bacon, tomatoes, and scallions to a large mixing bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing and the yogurt.
Pour over the salad components, and toss to combine. Taste for seasoning.

Nutrition