Chicken and Pasta Salad

A chicken and pasta salad is the perfect dish to serve as a warm weather lunch or supper. Use leftover or freshly baked or poached chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken. It’s a snap to fix! Just cook the pasta, toss it with the chicken, vegetables, and mayonnaise dressing, and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Crisp cooked bacon adds flavor, but you can omit it or swap it with diced ham or another flavorful smoked meat.
• Replace the chicken with leftover diced turkey.
• Add steamed asparagus to the salad for a delightful spring medley.
• Replace the penne pasta with macaroni or ziti.

How to Store

• Refrigerate the pasta salad in an airtight container within 2 hours, or 1 hour if the ambient temp is 90 F (32 C) or above.
• Use a cooler with ice to transport the salad, and if serving it outdoors, keep it in the cooler or nestle it in a larger bowl of ice.
• Pasta salad should last up to 3 to 4 days when stored properly.

Chicken and Pasta Salad

Diana

Whip up a delicious chicken pasta salad in no time! Customize it with your favorite ingredients and enjoy the flavors of summer.

No ratings yet

Servings 4 to 6 servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Salads

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 8 ounces mini penne pasta
• Kosher salt
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 2 plum tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup diced celery
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

For the Dressing

• 2/3 cup mayonnaise, or to taste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Dash garlic powder, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup diced cooked bacon, optional

Instructions

• Cook the penne pasta in boiling water seasoned with 1 tablespoon of salt. Follow the package directions for timing. Drain well and let cool.
• In a large serving bowl, combine the chicken, diced tomatoes, onion, celery, and parsley.
• Add the pasta to the bowl and toss to combine the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, and pepper and whisk to blend.
• Add the dressing to the pasta mixture and toss until well blended. Taste and add salt, to taste and adjust the mayonnaise and other seasonings as desired.
• Incorporate the bacon if using.
• Serve and enjoy!
  

Keyword chicken salad, pasta salad

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!