# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta & Vegetables
01 - 9 oz short pasta (rotini or penne)
02 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Crispy Chicken
05 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
06 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
09 - ½ tsp garlic powder
10 - ½ tsp paprika
11 - ¼ tsp salt
12 - ¼ tsp black pepper
13 - Vegetable oil, for frying
→ Ranch Dressing
14 - ½ cup mayonnaise
15 - ¼ cup sour cream
16 - ¼ cup buttermilk
17 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
18 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
19 - 1 tsp garlic powder
20 - 1 tsp onion powder
21 - ½ tsp salt
22 - ¼ tsp black pepper
23 - 1 tsp lemon juice
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain well, rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop cooking, and set aside.
02 - Slice chicken breasts into uniform bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: place flour in the first, beaten eggs in the second, and mix panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in the third.
04 - Dredge each chicken piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then press firmly into panko mixture to coat evenly.
05 - Heat ½ inch vegetable oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry chicken in batches without overcrowding, 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
06 - Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in large bowl until smooth and creamy.
07 - Add cooked pasta, thawed peas, diced bell pepper, and sliced green onions to dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated.
08 - Gently fold crispy chicken pieces into salad just before serving to preserve crunch. Serve immediately or refrigerate 30 minutes for chilled version.
