Summer Salad Recipes that can be eaten as a full meal are a delicious win in my book. BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad is a fun pasta salad, perfect for a Pot Luck BBQ or to feed the family. With zesty flavor and a cinch to make, this recipe will soon be a favorite family meal.
Originally Posted November 2017 ~ Republished June 2021
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I love the combination of flavors from the creamy ranch to the crunch of the corn chips. The textures and flavors combine for a wonderful combination. Here is a Tip ~ Try substituting Honey BBQ Twist Frito Chips for traditional Frito Chips. Yum!
This recipe is a favorite when using leftover Chicken. Here is my recipe on how to cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot or use Rotisserie Chicken. But any leftover chicken works perfectly in this recipe.
Family Favorite Recipe
Who doesn’t love a BBQ Pot-luck with a little something different than the norm? Any way you serve the BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad is perfect.
Try this recipe, and let us know what you think!
I like this salad cold, so the earlier I can get my pasta done and cooling the better. I also get giddy when I have my dinner planned and mostly done well before dinner time. I feel so productive.
While the pasta is cooking, I cut up my chicken if I’m using a rotisserie, or I quickly cook up Shredded Chicken in the Instant Pot, either way it’s pretty easy to accomplish this while the pasta is cooking.
However you choose to serve this pasta salad, you will love it. It’s so full of flavors and textures, it really is a party in your mouth!
BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad Shopping List
- Chicken – Cooked Cubed or Shredded Chicken
- Beans – Kidney, Black or Pinto Beans Rinsed and Drained
- Corn – Sweet Canned Corn Rinsed and Drained
- Onions – Green Onions 1 bunch chopped or Red Onions diced
- Spices – Ranch Dressing Mix
- Sour Cream – Regular, Light, or Greek Yogurt
- BBQ Sauce –
- Pasta – Curly is more fun!
- Chips – Frito Corn Chips or Honey BBQ Chips
- Cheese – Cheddar Cheese or a blend of cheeses grated
How to make BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad?
- This recipe calls for Cooked Cubed or Shredded Chicken. Rotisserie Chicken works perfectly or even leftover chicken.
- Add 1 lb Pasta with enough water to cover pasta in Instant Pot and pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 5-minute Natural Pressure Release. OR Cook pasta on stovetop according to package directions.
- Rinse Pasta in cool water and drain.
- Rinse and Drain Corn and Beans. I prefer Black Beans. Kidney or Pinto Beans are also a great substitute.
- Dice Onions and Tomatoes
- In a small bowl mix Powdered Ranch Dressing Mix and Sour Cream together. Mix until blended. Stir in BBQ Sauce. Mix together and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cubed chicken, beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, and pasta. Toss and mix all ingredients.
- Add sauce and mix to combine.
- Before serving add chips and lightly toss to combine. Add cheese on top, optional.
Pasta Salad Tips
Add BBQ Ranch Dressing to pasta and wait to add Frito Chips until ready to serve. Chips will become soggy and absorb all the dressing making the pasta dry.
How long will Pasta Salad last in Fridge?
Pasta Salad will last 3-4 days when kept in the fridge and stored covered in a sealed container.
How can I add Flavor to Pasta Salad?
Adding flavor to Pasta salad can be done by cooking pasta using broth when cooked in the Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker. This will infuse the pasta with the flavors from the broth.
Should you Rinse Pasta?
Pasta should never be rinsed for hot pasta dishes. The starch from the pasta helps thicken sauces. When serving a cold pasta salad or serving pasta at a later time it’s best to rinse pasta to remove excess starches.
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Don’t stop with just this salad, why not try these other Tried and True Pot Luck Salads too!
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Strawberry Poppyseed Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Mushroom and Garlic Noodles
- Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes with a creamy Pasta Sauce
- Ramen Pad Thai
BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Cup Cooked Chicken diced
- 1 Can Black Beans Rinsed and Drained
- 1 1/2 Cup Corn Rinsed and Drained
- 1 Bunch Green Onions Chopped and diced
- 1/2 Cup Tomato Diced
- 1/4 Cup Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 lb Pasta
- 2 Cup Corn Chips Frito Chips
- 1/2 -1 Cup Cheddar Cheese Optional
Instructions
- This recipe calls for Cooked Cubed or Shredded Chicken. Rotisserie Chicken works perfectly or even leftover chicken.
- Add 1 lb Pasta with enough water to cover pasta in Instant Pot and pressure cook for 5 minutes with a 5-minute Natural Pressure Release. OR Cook pasta on stovetop according to package directions. Broth can be substituted for water to infuse pasta with more flavor
- Rinse Pasta in cool water and drain.
- Rinse and Drain Corn and Beans. I prefer Black Beans. Kidney or Pinto Beans are also a great substitute.
- Dice Onions and Tomatoes
- In a small bowl mix Powdered Ranch Dressing Mix and Sour Cream together. Mix until blended. Stir in BBQ Sauce. Mix together and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine cubed chicken, beans, corn, onion, tomatoes, and pasta. Toss and mix all ingredients.
- Add sauce and mix to combine.
- Before serving add chips and lightly toss to combine. Add cheese on top, optional.
Notes
Pasta Salad Tips
Add BBQ Ranch Dressing to pasta and wait to add Frito Chips until ready to serve. Chips will become soggy and absorb all the dressing making the pasta dry.How long will Pasta Salad last in Fridge?
Nutrition
I’ve recently updated BBQ Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad. It’s the same great recipe with more information, tips and directions for the Instant Pot. But otherwise the same great recipe.
As it’s always fun to look back, I love to keep some of the older photos to enjoy. I hope you love the new photos more than the old. 😉
Updated Recipe June 2021
Made this for dinner when my son was in town and he loved it. I substituted pinto beans in it and used chicken broth for the liquid. I love cooking pasta in the IP it’s so easy. Thanks for the recipe!!!
My grandkids would 💘 this dish I would differently use the pinto beans I like the ranch style they have one with onion and one with jalapeno peppers and the original kind. I will make it soon
My kids have loved it. It’s great to change up the beans or whatever you prefer, but the overall flavor and taste is great. Sure hope they love it too!
this sounds mouth-watering. I love anything with pasta!
Oh, what a colorful dish with some interesting food combinations. I’ve never had anything like this.
I just showed this to my friends, and they think we should try this one and make this at home, it’s quite expensive when you order pasta salad outside. 🙂
I like this! I love all these ingredients separately so I am sure they would be amazing together. I will have to try it.
This is the good stuff! I would love a bowl of this.
This pasta salad looks delicious! I am not that good with salads LOL but when they have protein they are more filling to me.
Oooo I’m a sucker for any pasta salad and THIS looks exceptional! Going to have to try.
Yummy, this looks so good! I love the touch of corn chips to add that crunch with the pasta!
This looks great! I am pinning this one for dinner this week! Thanks for sharing!
Mmm! This looks sooo good! I think this would be a perfect treat for Cinco de Mayo.
This looks like a lovely dish, I could switch the chicken for Quorn and easily enjoy this as a veggie too!
Mmmm, that sounds like the right combination of ingredients! Using a cool water rinse for the pasta is a great tip. It looks incredible and I can’t wait to try it out!
This looks so good! I never tried this before, this is a must try!
This recipe looks delicious! We need to make it soon. We are always looking for new dinner party recipes!
This looks SO delicious. I have to try this soon!
I had this at a party one time and it was really good. I think it had the Chilli Cheese Fritos in it though. I’d like to also try it with the regular Fritos. That sounds delicious!
Oh yes, the Chili Cheese Fritos would be excellent with this too!
I’ve never thought to add corn chips to a pasta salad. What a fun addition! I bet this is yummy with the combination of barbecue and ranch, too!
It’s so delicious! Love the combination of flavors.
Yep, this is dinner tonight, we have a sleepover scheduled and I think the boys will love this.
So Fun! It’s a great meal! Enjoy . 🙂
They loved it. My son friend told me to send his mother the recipe because he loves it so much. We used scoopable corn chips and my youngest two children ages (3&4) loved being able to eat dinner with their finger. This will become a staple in our house.
I love hearing this! And Scoop-able chips would be soo fun too! What a great idea for a group of kids. 🙂
This looks amazing and no one that I know of makes it – Yeah pot luck dish! These flavors sounds tremendous together and then add corn chips Yum!
This is a perfect dish to bring to a Pot Luck. Add the chips right before you serve so they stay nice and crisp. Enjoy!!
This looks too good not to eat! Will have to try this during the week.