Description
Looking for a quick lunch or easy dinner that doesn’t sacrifice flavor for convenience? This High-Protein Creamy Ranch Pasta Salad is the answer. It’s a creamy, tangy, and filling dish loaded with lean chicken, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and crisp vegetables, making it perfect for healthy snack prep, weekday lunches, or simple dinner ideas. Whether you’re after a high-protein meal or just a crowd-pleasing pasta salad, this easy recipe ticks all the right boxes.
Ingredients
200g rotini pasta
2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
1 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
1 cup cucumber, sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup yellow or red bell pepper, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Splash of milk or water (optional, to thin dressing)
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning. Add a splash of milk or water if needed for desired consistency.
3. Dice the cooked chicken and slice all the vegetables.
4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chicken, vegetables, and chopped parsley.
5. Pour the dressing over the mix and fold gently until everything is evenly coated.
6. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
7. Garnish with more parsley or cracked black pepper if desired.
Notes
For added texture, mix in a handful of roasted sunflower seeds before serving.
Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before mixing to avoid soggy veggies.
Adjust the creaminess by adding a splash of milk if the yogurt is too thick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 68mg