Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

We believe this chicken pasta salad recipe is one of the best cold salad recipes to make for either large gatherings, regular light meals, or World Pasta Day.

This salad is full of flavor, texture, and color. You will get tender pasta, hearty chicken, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crispy bell peppers, all wrapped in an irresistibly tasty dressing.

Main Ingredients

The combination of chicken, pasta, and the veggie mix in this salad is heavenly. While chicken and pasta take the main stage, cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper add incredibly fresh flavors and crispness to the salad.

1. Pasta

With this chicken pasta salad recipe, we go for rotini, as this pasta shape looks exceptionally good in macaroni salads. You can easily chop rotini into bite-sized pieces, making it more convenient to toss with other ingredients.

Of course, please feel free to use your favorite pasta shape if you believe it makes the salad more appealing. Other pasta shapes that are suitable for this salad are bow tie, large shells, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, maccheroni, conchiglie, etc.

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2. Chicken

For this salad, we use diced chicken breast to add a lean protein source to the salad while still keeping the fat low.

This salad also gives you a chance to make the best use of leftover rotisserie in your fridge. So, don’t fret yourself over which cut of chicken to use— whatever is convenient for you.

Is Our Chicken Pasta Salad Healthy?

For a protein salad that’s loaded with lean chicken breast, fresh greens, and a mix of fresh herbs and seasonings, we believe the answer is yes. The dressing is also light and herby, as there’s no mayo or ranch included.

However, it’s important to note that you may need a consult from a health expert when adding it to any specific diet.

Our other healthy options include an easy, tasty buffalo chicken recipe and one to make a light and quick lunch.

Calories

This chicken pasta salad provides 243 calories per serving.

Dressing

In this chicken pasta salad recipe, we made the dressing only from a few ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, mustard, and honey.

Apart from that, of course, it is allowed to add mayo or sour cream to the dressing and make it cream-based. Making chicken pasta salad dressing with mayo or sour cream will make it remarkably richer and creamier.

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What Goes With This Dish?

Aside from chicken, pasta, and a hearty veggie mix of cherry tomatoes, red onion, and red bell pepper, here are other options for additional fruits and nuts that might also meet your needs.

1. Peas

Peas contribute a chewy texture and a nutty flavor, while also adding another source of protein and nutrients to this salad. 

In place of peas, you can also consider cashews or chopped pecans, as they can also lend a wonderful crispness and earthy flavor to the bowl. You can chop whole pecans yourself or buy pre-chopped pecans to save time.

2. Grapes

Grapes add fresh sweetness and can help make a light summer lunch or dinner, and may result in possibly the best chicken salad!

Usually, red grapes are slightly sweeter and add vibrant color to the salad bowl. However, please rest assured that you can use any variety of grapes, depending on what you have at home or what you can buy in the store.

How Long Does This Salad Last?

Sealed in an airtight container, chicken pasta salad can last in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Although leftovers are safe to eat, they may not retain the best flavor and texture. The longer the salad stays in the refrigerator, the drier it will become.

Therefore, the best way to enjoy this salad is always to complete it within a few hours after cooking. Consider adding some dressing to the salad bowl before reheating to make it moist.

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Can You Freeze?

Yes, you can. If stored in the same way as when refrigerated, this salad can freeze well for 2-3 weeks.

Take it out of the freezer the day before serving and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then microwave when you’re ready to enjoy it.

Many ingredients in chicken pasta salad are difficult to freeze. Frozen vegetables after thawing can easily make the entire salad soggy and slimy.

The cream-based dressing can become watery after defrosting, as the mayo or sour cream easily separates. Therefore, if you need to make it in advance, please plan accordingly.

Light, Awesome Chicken Salads to Make for the Week

In just 20 minutes you can make a flavorful salad with shiny, sticky chunks of chicken that is our BBQ chicken salad. The BBQ sauce is our homemade version, made to suit a salad so that everything is balanced in taste.

Similarly rich and tangy but without much cooking, this chicken salad and grapes is the crunchiest, juiciest we’ve ever created. It can also double as a sandwich filling that fits easily into your lunch box.

Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This chicken pasta salad recipe provides numerous possibilities for spin-offs. You can mix it with added vegetables of your choice to serve as a side for sumptuous meals, or even for meal-prep lunch at work.

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• cook TIME 40 mins
• prep TIME 10 mins
• total TIME 50 mins

• COURSE Side Dish
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 243 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 6 oz skinless boneless chicken breast
• 4.25 oz rotini pasta (dry)
• 3 oz cherry tomatoes (quartered)
• 2 oz red bell pepper (julienned)
• 1 oz arugula
• 0.5 oz red onion (julienned)
• 0.25 oz Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic (minced)
• 2 tsp traditional Dijon mustard

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Cook 4.25 oz pasta in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.

2

Add 6 oz chicken to a large bowl with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.

3

On a skillet, heat 1/2 tbsp olive oil over low-medium heat. Sear the chicken for 10 minutes until it's cooked through and golden.

4

Allow it to cool down and cut into large cubes.

5

Make the dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp garlic, 2 tsp mustard, and 1/2 tbsp honey.

6

Add chicken, 1 oz arugula, 3 oz cherry tomatoes, 0.5 oz red onion, and 2 oz red bell pepper to the pasta bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss to combine.

7

Sprinkle 0.25 oz Parmesan cheese and serve.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 243Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g

12%

Saturated Fat 1g

6%

Trans Fat 8g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 33mg

11%

Sodium 270mg

12%

Potassium 344mg

10%

Carbohydrate 28g

9%

Fiber 2g

8%

Sugar 4g

4%

Protein 15g

30%

Vitamin A 743IU

15%

Vitamin C 25mg

30%

Calcium 50mg

5%

Iron 1mg

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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