By Becky Hardin
Published Jun 25, 2021
This ranch chicken pasta salad recipe is the perfect side or main dish. It’s spicy, delicious, and creamy. Everyone will love this fiesta pasta salad!
Fiesta Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
Whip up this ranch chicken pasta salad in no time for an easy side dish or a simple lunch. It’s so creamy and filled with flavor.
This spicy fiesta pasta salad has so many delicious ingredients. There’s lots of chicken , cheese, black beans, tomatoes, corn, and more. Top it off with Fritos for an added crunch!
Serve this up with dinner, or bring it to your next BBQ , potluck, or party. Everyone will love this dish!
Why you’ll love this Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad recipe:
- QUICK & EASY: This dish is so easy to throw together. Once you have all your ingredients prepared, it won’t take more than 10 minutes.
- SPICY: A bit of spice adds the best flavor to this recipe. You can make it as spicy (or not spicy) as you please.
- MAKE AHEAD : Pasta salad is so easy to make ahead of time. Make it up to 48 hours in advance.
Be sure to try this Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad and this Jalapeno Popper Pasta Salad .
How to make Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Begin by cooking the pasta and preparing the chicken.
- To make the dressing, combine milk, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and jalapenos. Set aside.
- In another bowl, mix pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and cilantro.
- Combine the ranch dressing mixture with the pasta mixture, and stir to fully combine.
- Top it with Frito’s and serve.
What kind of pasta should I use?
I used rotini for this ranch chicken pasta salad, as it’s one of my favorite types for pasta salad. Not only do the spirals look great, but they hold the dressing in the little crevices.
You could substitute another type of pasta if you have something else on hand. Bow tie pasta and penne are good options too.
What to serve with fiesta ranch pasta salad?
This recipe makes a delicious side dish, but since it’s filled with chicken, it can work as a the main course too.
Serve it at your BBQ alongside burgers , with tacos on taco night , or along with some other sides.
How long does this keep in the fridge?
This fiesta pasta salad keeps in the refrigerator up to 2-3 days. Keep leftovers in an airtight container.
You could also make this ahead of time (up to 48 hours) and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tips!
- If you have regular ranch packets but still want some more spice, mix in some red pepper flakes or chili powder.
- You could also make your own ranch seasoning mix .
- I used cubed chicken for this fiesta pasta salad but you could also use shredded chicken if you prefer.
- Whether you cook your own chicken or use pre-cooked chicken from the store, just make sure it’s fully cooked before combining it with other ingredients.
- Mix in a couple handfuls of spinach for some added greens.
- To lighten things up a bit, use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
You won’t want to skip this fiesta ranch chicken pasta salad. It’s an easy recipe and a quick favorite. Try it on Cinco de Mayo or Taco Tuesday !
More Pasta Salad Recipes we Love
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Tricolor Pasta Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Pickle Pasta Salad
- Shrimp Pasta Salad
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ⅓ cup milk
- ▢ ⅔ cup sour cream
- ▢ 1 1 ounce packet ranch seasoning fiesta, spicy or regular
- ▢ 2 jalapenos divided (1 deseeded and diced and 1 sliced)
- ▢ 1 pound pasta cooked according to package directions
- ▢ 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- ▢ 1 cup corn canned, fresh or frozen
- ▢ ½ red bell pepper diced
- ▢ 1 ½ cup cooked chicken diced
- ▢ ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ▢ 1 cup shredded cheese pepper jack, cheddar or other
- ▢ 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- ▢ 1 ½ cups corn chips
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the milk, sour cream, ranch seasoning and the diced jalapeno, stir to combine and let it sit while you make the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, chicken tomatoes, cheese and 1 ½ Tablespoons cilantro.
- Stir to combine and add the dressing.
- Top each serving with corn chips and a sprinkle of cilantro.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Fiesta Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 1 1 ounce packet ranch seasoning fiesta, spicy or regular
- 2 jalapenos divided (1 deseeded and diced and 1 sliced)
- 1 pound pasta cooked according to package directions
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn canned, fresh or frozen
- ½ red bell pepper diced
- 1 ½ cup cooked chicken diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup shredded cheese pepper jack, cheddar or other
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 ½ cups corn chips
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the milk, sour cream, ranch seasoning and the diced jalapeno, stir to combine and let it sit while you make the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pasta, black beans, corn, bell pepper, chicken tomatoes, cheese and 1 ½ Tablespoons cilantro.
- Stir to combine and add the dressing.
- Top each serving with corn chips and a sprinkle of cilantro.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
