This tasty Chicken Pasta Salad is a great option for a quick dinner or a delightful addition to any picnic. It features chicken, vegetables, and a flavorful homemade dressing that elevates this pasta dish.
For more cold pasta recipes, consider trying out our tri-color pasta salad and pesto pasta salad.
#feast-advanced-jump-to{z-index:999;border:none;opacity:.97;background:#FCFCFC;border-left:4px solid #CCC;padding:5px 0 10px 20px;margin-bottom:57px}#feast-advanced-jump-to summary,#feast-advanced-jump-to ul{margin-left:0;min-height:50px}#feast-advanced-jump-to li{list-style-type:none}#feast-advanced-jump-to li a{text-decoration:none}
Recipe Details
This Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing dish for warm weather. When enjoyed cold, it offers a burst of delicious flavors and is simple to prepare. It’s a top choice to serve on a hot summer day for gatherings with friends and family.
- TASTE: The combination of savory chicken, sweet tomatoes, and pungent onions topped with a tangy homemade dressing creates a delightful flavor profile.
- TEXTURE: Enjoy the crisp veggies, juicy chicken, and perfectly cooked al dente pasta in this delectable salad.
- TIME: Ready in just 17 minutes.
- EASE: Quick and easy to assemble, making it ideal for weeknight dinners, a simple lunch, or outdoor picnics.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta- Tri-color rotini pasta is used, but any small pasta will work.
- Chicken- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Seasonings- Olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Vegetables- Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and avocado.
- For the dressing- Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, water, lemon juice, Italian spices, and salt.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add cheese- Enhance this Chicken Pasta Salad with shredded or cubed cheese like cheddar, pepper jack, blue cheese, or feta.
- Substitute other vegetables- Experiment with veggies such as asparagus, olives, bell peppers, banana peppers, or shredded carrots for a unique twist.
- Use another dressing- Try alternatives like Greek Salad Dressing, Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or Easy Cilantro Lime Dressing for a different flavor profile.
- Substitute the chicken- Mix it up by using fish, shrimp, steak, or tofu as a protein alternative.
How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad
- Prep and season the chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into thin cutlets, season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the chicken. Sear the chicken in a large pan with olive oil until fully cooked. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest part.
- Rest the chicken. Allow the chicken to rest covered for 5-10 minutes before cutting into bite-sized pieces.
Pro Tip: If using frozen chicken, consider cooking it in an Instant Pot for a quicker cooking process!
- Cook the pasta. Follow the package instructions to cook the rotini. After cooking, drain and rinse with cold water to prevent overcooking.
- Prepare the vegetables. Slice the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. Cube the avocado. Combine the cooked pasta, chicken, and vegetables in a large bowl.
- Make the dressing. In a large measuring cup, stir together olive oil, vinegar, honey, lemon juice, water, Italian spices, and salt.
- Dress the salad. Drizzle the dressing over the chicken pasta salad and toss to coat. Serve chilled.
Recipe Tips
- Avoid overcooking the pasta- Cook the pasta al dente and rinse with cold water post-draining to prevent mushiness when combined with other ingredients.
- Ensure chicken is fully cooked- Use a meat thermometer to check for a minimum internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Uniform sizes- Keep the chicken and veggies in similar sizes for a well-balanced salad experience.
- Extra dressing- Make additional dressing to store for future use. It can be refrigerated in a sealed container for up to a week.
**FAQs**
– **Is it better to make pasta salad the night before?**
Actually, yes! This pasta salad tastes even better the second day because the pasta and chicken absorb more of the dressing and flavor. So making this ahead of time is not only convenient but delicious.
– **Do you rinse off pasta for pasta salad?**
For a cold dish like pasta salad, you rinse the pasta. This stops the cooking process and cools the noodles before you add the other ingredients. The only time you don’t rinse pasta is for a hot dish.
**Serving Suggestions**
This Chicken Pasta Salad can be eaten just as it is for any meal. But if you want to pair it with another dish, here are a few suggestions:
– **Sandwiches:** This is a great side dish for sandwiches like Classic BLT Sandwich, Caprese Sandwich, or Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Sandwich.
– **Grilled meats:** If you’re bringing this to a barbecue or picnic, it’ll pair nicely with steaks, burgers, hot dogs, and ribs. You could even serve it with a Cast Iron Ribeye Steak, Smoked Chicken Wings, or BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Legs.
– **Bread:** If Chicken Pasta Salad is the main course, consider serving a side of buttered Focaccia Bread, Buttermilk Cornbread, or Garlic Cheese Bread.
– **Vegetables:** Another great side to serve with this cold pasta would be vegetables like Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Oven Baked), and Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
**Make This Recipe in Advance**
**Make ahead:** You can make this pasta salad beforehand, but you shouldn’t make it more than 2-3 days ahead because the vegetables will start to become mushy. The dressing can be made about a week in advance and then added to the freshly prepared pasta, veggies, and chicken though.
**Storing:** Store any leftover Chicken Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just give it a stir and serve when you are ready.
**Freeze:** If the chicken was previously frozen, it’s not advised to refreeze it. This salad is best made fresh or within a few days and stored in the fridge because ingredients like the dressing, tomatoes, and cucumbers don’t thaw well.
**More Great Pasta Salads!**
– **Tri Color Pasta Salad (VIDEO)**
– **Creamy Pasta Salad**
– **Pesto Pasta Salad (VIDEO)**
– **BLT Pasta Salad**
**Full Recipe Instructions**
This Chicken Pasta Salad recipe has great variety & is so flavorful. You’ll love how quick & easy this salad & homemade dressing are to make.
**User Ratings:** 5 stars out of 5 (from 4 votes).
Print Pin Rate
