This easy chicken pasta salad is protein-packed and full of fresh and tangy flavors.
Cooked chicken, pasta, and a handful of veggies are dressed in Ranch and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.
It’s a bistro-worthy summer salad with healthy and delicious ingredients.
Easy Pasta Salad with Chicken
- Pasta salad with chicken can be a light summer supper or an energizing workday lunch.
- This recipe only needs a few ingredients likely already on hand.
- With only three easy steps, chicken pasta salad is ready in 20 minutes.
- Mix and match the meat or veggies and create a new recipe every time.
Ingredients For Pasta Salad
Pasta – Any pasta will do, but tubular or ridged pasta that stays firm and soaks up that tangy Ranch dressing is best. Rotini, penne, bowtie, or medium shells will also do.
Chicken – Rotisserie chickens are timesaving gems in the kitchen! You can also use leftover chicken, turkey, or ham as well.
Veggies – For a heartier salad, substitute spinach for kale or add arugula to the spinach. Grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, or diced Roma tomatoes are great choices. Toss in some diced bell peppers, cucumbers, chopped celery, or avocado.
Dressing – Any Ranch dressing works, even a light Caesar. Whip up a batch of homemade honey mustard dressing or even this cilantro lime dressing for an extra zippy chicken pasta salad.
Cheese – Besides parmesan, add crumbled feta, blue cheese, or shredded mozzarella.
Variations – Try using crumbled bacon, shrimp, salmon, or canned tuna as alternate proteins. Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, or sliced banana peppers add a tangy flavor to each bite.
How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta. Rinse in cold water (as per the recipe below).
- Combine the pasta, chicken, and vegetables in a bowl.
- Add dressing just before serving. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, toss and serve.
Tips for the Best Pasta Salad
- Prep everything ahead in a large bowl (except dressing, pasta, and spinach) and keep chilled. Assemble just before serving so it’s extra cold and refreshing.
- Cook pasta to al dente so it stays firm for days.
- Pour half the dressing in before tossing as you may not need it all.
Serving and Storing Chicken Pasta Salad
This dish is a meal alone, but it goes great with a side of breadsticks. Scoop some into a pita pocket or a wrap for a healthy meal to take along.
Keep chicken pasta salad covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Pasta salads don’t thaw well, so we advise against freezing.
More Simple Pasta Salads
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Chicken Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces medium pasta such as rotini
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken rotisserie or leftover chicken
- 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 4 ounces baby spinach
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 cup ranch dressing
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl combine drained pasta, cooked chicken, tomatoes, spinach, and red onion.
- Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, toss and serve.
Notes
- For the cooked chicken, you can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or buy precooked grilled chicken.
- If you do not plan to eat the pasta right away, add everything to the bowl EXCEPT the dressing or the spinach. Once the spinach gets wet it will wilt quickly so either keep the dressing in a jar or the spinach in a bag.
- Chicken pasta salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It is not advisable to freeze.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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