By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 8
275 cal · 25 min
Buffalo Ranch Pasta Salad
Recipe GLPRfb353562a79477
A zesty and tangy pasta salad combining rotini tossed with buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning, and fresh vegetables. The vibrant heat of cayenne pepper blends perfectly with creamy ranch flavors, while crisp celery, carrots, and bell pepper add refreshing texture. Serve chilled as a side dish, appetizer, or light snack.
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Ingredients
12 ounces rotini pasta
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
1 packet (1 ounce) ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix
2 carrots, chopped
4 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package directions until just tender. Drain the pasta thoroughly in a colander.
Rinse the drained pasta under cold running water until completely chilled, then drain again to remove excess moisture.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, olive oil, and ranch dressing and seasoning mix until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Add the cooked and cooled pasta, chopped carrots, sliced celery, and chopped green bell pepper to the bowl with the buffalo-ranch mixture.
Toss all ingredients together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the buffalo-ranch dressing.
Cover and refrigerate the salad until ready to serve, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Comments
Every ingredient lands at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, or ALDI without a special trip, and the cost per serving runs under $1.50 when you use store-brand pasta, buffalo sauce, and ranch mix. The 25-minute stated time is honest if you're using pre-made dressing and sauce, though chopping three vegetables takes a real 8–10 minutes of that, so expect closer to 30 if you're not practiced with a knife. This is an ideal potluck or weeknight side that doesn't require constant attention, though the pasta will soften slightly as it sits, so it's best served the same evening or within a day—the ranch dressing doesn't transform it into a tomorrow meal.
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