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This Chicken and Bacon Pasta Salad is my new favourite lunch recipe with crispy bacon bits, tender chicken and a creamy, ranch dressing. Made with gluten free pasta it’s the perfect lunch idea – and makes a great summer side dish too!
My Fave Gluten Free Pasta Salad Recipe
- Why choose this recipe? This gluten free chicken and bacon pasta salad recipe ticks all the boxes. Quick to make, a deli-style, creamy ranch dressing, and perfect for picnics, lunchboxes and barbecues.
- Top Tip: If you’re making a cold gluten free pasta salad be sure to invest in a good quality pasta like Rummo, Garofalo or Barilla. The cheaper supermarket gluten free pastas tend to go hard when cooled.
- Anything else? If you love a gluten free pasta salad be sure to check out my Tuna Pasta Salad, my Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad and Greek Pasta Salad recipes for your next fix!
Ingredients and Substitutions
There’s a printable recipe card below for this chicken and bacon pasta salad recipe with the full quantities. But here are the main ingredients and ideas for any swaps.
- Chicken Breast: You could use chicken thigh if you prefer.
- Garlic: I use garlic granules and garlic paste, but you could use one or the other.
- Bacon: Smoked or unsmoked would work – I use streaky bacon but you could use bacon lardons or lean bacon medallions cut up.
- Pasta: I use gluten free penne pasta, but you can use any shape you like.
- Sweetcorn: I use tinned sweetcorn, but you could use fresh or frozen, or swap for any veg you like such as tomatoes, peppers, or peas.
- Red Onion
- Herbs: Fresh chives and dried parsley add colour and flavour to the marinade.
- Lemon: This adds a lovely tang to the marinade – you could use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar instead.
- Buttermilk: Essential for a classic ranch dressing! Make your own by adding lemon juice to milk and letting it curdle.
- Mayonnaise: This helps keep the pasta soft, you can use full-fat or light mayo.
- Soured Cream: I love the creaminess and slight tang this adds. You could swap for cream cheese, crème fraîche or additional mayo if you prefer.
How to Make a Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
There’s a printable recipe card below with the method. But here are some step-by-step photos to show you how easy this gluten free chicken and bacon pasta salad is to make.
Storing Instructions
TO STORE: Any leftovers of this chicken and bacon ranch pasta salad can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days and eaten cold.
TO MAKE AHEAD: To get ahead, cook the chicken and bacon and mix up the ranch dressing. Store in the fridge then cook the pasta fresh and mix everything together.
More Salad Recipes
If you like this chicken and bacon pasta salad recipe then make sure you check out these other gluten free salad recipes too…
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Cook the gluten free pasta as per the pack instructions in a pan of boiling, salted water. Once done, drain then rinse with some cold water.
While the pasta cooks, add a little oil to a non-stick frying pan then add the streaky bacon rashers. Fry on both sides for 4-5 minutes until crispy, then remove from the pan. Cut into small pieces.
Cut the chicken breast into bite-size chunks. Coat in salt, pepper and garlic granules then add to the frying pan. Fry for 4-5 minutes until cooked through then remove from the pan.
Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.
Add the pasta, chicken, bacon, red onion, chopped chives and sweetcorn to a large bowl. Pour over the dressing, mix well, then serve warm or cold.
- Storing: If making this ahead of time, keep this pasta salad in the fridge.
- Step-by-Step Photos: Check out the blog post above for step-by-step photos of this method if you find it easier to follow a visual guide.
- Top Tip: This ranch dressing is great on all salads – why not double the batch and save some for your lunches during the week?
- Like this Recipe? It would mean SO much to me if you could leave a 5* rating and a little comment if you make this Chicken and Bacon Salad recipe and love it. It really helps support my blog and get the recipe out there to more people! Thank you xx
Serving: 1 portion | Calories: 760kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 24g
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