Home American Chicken Pasta Salad – Simply Home Cooked

Chicken Pasta Salad – Simply Home Cooked

July 19, 2023

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Published: July 19, 2023 By Dina

It Chicken pasta salad It’s the perfect thing for a quick dinner or to share at a picnic. Chicken, vegetables and homemade sauce make this pasta recipe absolutely delicious.

If you are looking for more cold pasta recipes, try our delicious Tricolor Pasta Salad and Pesto Pasta Salad.

Table of Contents

Recipe details

Chicken pasta salad is the perfect dish for hot weather. Served cold, full of delicious flavor and easy to prepare. This is one of my favorite recipes to serve on a hot summer day to friends and family.

taste: Salted chicken tossed with sweet tomatoes and spicy onions, then topped with a spicy homemade sauce.
texture: The vegetables are crunchy, the chicken is juicy, and the pasta is cooked al dente. What’s not to love about this amazing salad!
time: It only takes 17 minutes to prepare.
lightness: This dish comes together quickly and easily, making it ideal for weeknight dinners, an easy lunch option or outdoor picnics.

what do you need

Ingredients for chicken pasta salad: tricolor rotini, chicken breast, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, cucumber, olive oil, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, lemon, honey and apple cider vinegar.

Ingredient notes

pasta- i used Routine in three colors pasta, but you can use any small pasta you like.
chicken- Boneless and skinless chicken breast.
spices- Olive oil, Italian seasoningsalt 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.

Additions and replacements

add cheese Add shredded or diced cheese to this chicken pasta salad, such as cheddar, pepper jack, crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese.
Substitute other vegetables- You can make this salad with other vegetables, such as asparagus, olives, pepper, banana pepper or grated carrot.
Use a different dressing- Instead of this dressing, you can also make it with Greek Salad Dressing, Butter Butter Dressing or Light Cilantro Lime Dressing.
replace the chicken- Make this pasta salad with fish, shrimp, steak or tofu for some variation.

How to make chicken pasta salad

Chop and season the chicken. Slice the chicken breast into thin patties and season both sides with Italian seasoning, then salt and pepper to taste.
Cook the chicken. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Then cook the chicken on both sides until it is ready. You can check with a meat thermometer to make sure it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the meat.
Let it rest. After cooking, let the chicken sit for about 5-10 minutes, covered. Then cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Professional tip: If there’s only frozen chicken, you totally can Cook frozen chicken breast in an instant pot. It cooks in a fraction of the time!

Steps for making chicken pasta salad: Season the chicken and then cook it in a cast iron skillet before cutting it into bite-sized pieces.

Cook the pasta. Now cook the rotini according to the package instructions. When finished, filter and rinse with cold water so that it does not overcook.
Chop the vegetables. Then slice the cherry tomatoes, cucumber and onion. Cut the avocado into small cubes. Place the cooked pasta, chicken and vegetables in a large bowl.
Prepare the sauce. In a large measuring cup, add the olive oil, vinegar, honey, lemon juice, water, Italian spices and salt. Whisk together.
dress the salad. Pour the sauce over the chicken pasta salad and mix to combine. Serve chilled.

Steps to make a chicken pasta salad: combine the oil, vinegar, honey, lemon juice, water, Italian spices and salt in a measuring cup with a whisk, then add the avocado, chicken, pasta, onion and tomatoes to a bowl and mix with the dressing.

Tips for recipes

Do not overcook the pasta- Be sure to cook the pasta al dente, then rinse it in cold water after draining. This is important to stop the cooking process so the pasta doesn’t become mushy and broken when tossed with the other ingredients.
Cook the chicken fully- To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, the best thing to do is insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. It should read at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep everything roughly the same size- When chopping the chicken and vegetables, try to keep them all about the same size so that the salad is uniform. That way, when you take a bite, you don’t get a big mouthful of any one ingredient, but a little bit of everything.
Double your wardrobe- Make extra dressing to store in the fridge for your next salad. In a jar or bottle with a lid, it can last a week.

Common questions

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 sauce and flavor. So preparing it ahead of time is not only convenient, but also delicious.

Do you wash pasta for pasta salad?

For a cold dish like pasta salad, wash the pasta. This stops the cooking process and cools the noodles before adding the other ingredients. The only time you don’t wash pasta is for a hot dish.

Chicken pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, onion, rotini, and chicken in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

submission suggestions

This chicken pasta salad can be eaten exactly as it is for any meal. But if you want to combine it with another dish, here are some suggestions:

sandwiches- It’s a great addition to sandwiches, like a classic BLT sandwich, a caprese sandwich, or a slow-cooked beef brisket sandwich.
grilled meats If you’re bringing it to a barbecue or picnic, it will pair nicely with steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs. You can even serve it with 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, cornbread, or garlic cheese bread.
vegetables- Another great side to serve with this cold pasta would be vegetables, like these Roasted Air Fryer Vegetables, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Oven Baked) and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

Make this recipe in advance

forward: You can make this pasta salad in advance, but you shouldn’t make it more than 2-3 days ahead because the vegetables will start to get mushy. The sauce can be prepared about a week in advance and then added to the pasta, the vegetables and the freshly prepared chicken.

storage: Keep any leftover chicken pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just mix and serve when you’re ready.

freeze: If the chicken has been frozen before, it is not recommended to refreeze it. It is best to make this salad fresh or within a few days and store in the refrigerator because ingredients such as the dressing, tomatoes and cucumbers do not thaw well.

More great pasta salads!

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Full recipe instructions