The Best Buffalo Chickpea Pasta Salad
This buffalo chickpea pasta salad is loaded with crispy buffalo chickpeas, crunchy vegetables, kale, pumpkin seeds, pasta, and creamy homemade ranch dressing for the ultimate spicy and satisfying meal.
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 480kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound Elbow Macaroni Noodles
- 2 cups Kale chopped
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 cup Cucumber diced
- 1 cup Carrots shredded
- 1 cup Yellow Bell Pepper diced
- ½ medium Red Onion diced
- 1 cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
- Ranch Dressing to taste
Buffalo Chickpeas
- 2 (19 oz) cans Chickpeas drained, rinsed and dried
- ¼ cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning
Instructions
Make The Buffalo Chickpeas
- Toss the chickpeas with hot sauce, avocado oil, and Cajun seasoning, then spread them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast at 425°F for 35-40 minutes until golden and crispy. Cool completely to allow them to crisp up even more.👉 See the full roasted buffalo chickpeas recipe
Assemble The Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completley cooled to stop the cooking process and prevent the pasta from becoming mushy.
- Add the chopped kale to a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Massage the kale with your hands for 1-2 minutes until softened and tender.
- Add the cooled pasta, vegetables, pumpkin seeds, and buffalo chickpeas to the bowl with the kale. Toss everything together until evenly combined.
- Pour your desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss again until fully coated. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Pasta Noodles: Any tubular-shaped pasta can be used for this pasta salad recipe.
- Extra Protein: Add some shredded roast chicken, garlic butter shrimp or crispy tofu!
- Ranch Dressing: Any kind or flavor of dressing can be used in this recipe, but I highly recommend my homemade ranch dressing!
- Be sure to salt the pasta water and completely cool the pasta right after cooking.
- Massaging the kale with olive oil helps remove bitterness and softens the texture.
- Store leftovers without dressing in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 557mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3690IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg
