Description
Get ready to savor the classic flavors of a club sandwich in a refreshing and satisfying pasta salad! Club Sandwich Pasta Salad takes all the delicious components of a beloved sandwich – crisp bacon, tender chicken, juicy tomatoes, and tangy cheese – and transforms them into a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 12 ounce pasta (rotini, bowtie, or penne)
- 1 1/2 cup cooked chicken breast, diced
- 1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
- While the pasta is cooling, dice the cooked chicken, crumble the bacon, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the lettuce, cube the cheese, and dice the red onion and cucumber.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and ranch seasoning until well combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, cheese, and red onion. Pour the dressing over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate the Club Sandwich Pasta Salad for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld together. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
To ensure your Club Sandwich Pasta Salad turns out perfectly every time, here are a few tips:
– Cook the pasta al dente: Avoid overcooking the pasta, as this can lead to a mushy texture in the salad. Cook it just until it’s tender but still has a bite to it.
– Mix gently: When combining the salad ingredients, do so gently to prevent the pasta from breaking apart and the delicate lettuce from getting crushed.
– Refrigerate before serving: Letting the salad chill for a few hours or overnight allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
– Customize to your liking: Feel free to swap out ingredients to suit your tastes – try turkey or ham instead of chicken, or add in diced bell peppers or olives for extra flavor and crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 grams
- Sodium: 800 milligrams
- Fat: 30 grams
- Saturated Fat: 6 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 30 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Protein: 20 grams
- Cholesterol: 70 milligrams