This top-rated chicken pasta salad is your new go-to for parties, picnics, tailgates, cookouts and even family dinners. The recipe couldn’t be simpler: Boil pasta and toss with chicken, vegetables and a quick homemade dressing. The real brilliance, though, is that the ingredients list is both simple and jam-packed with flavor. You’ve got savory bacon and cheese, sweet basil and tomatoes, tangy balsamic vinegar and spicy red onion. The resulting dish has a range of flavors and textures that taste like summer in every single bite.
Whether you’re preparing this pasta salad to complement other potluck recipes or you want a simple summer dinner, grab a box of pasta, dig into the cheese drawer and crisp up your favorite type of bacon.
Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients
- Bow tie pasta: Also known as farfalle, this butterfly-shaped noodle is easy to spear with a fork. If you use a different pasta shape, stick to a bite-sized variety, so that each forkful has a mix of pasta, veggies, cheese and meat. Penne or fusilli would work well; spaghetti not so much.
- Cooked chicken breast: Pasta salad is a great way to use up leftover chicken. Roast, rotisserie, boiled or braised: doesn’t matter. Just cut the pieces into roughly equal cubes.
- Tomatoes: Chop up larger tomatoes when they’re juicy and in season; otherwise, try using halved cherry or grape tomatoes, which tend to taste better year-round.
- Red onion: Crunchy raw red onion adds a bright zip to this rich pasta salad with chicken.
- Bacon strips: Crumbles of savory bacon add intense punctuation marks of flavor to the bowl.
- Gorgonzola cheese: Rich, savory Gorgonzola adds bold flavor. It complements the chicken, bacon and basil well.
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar: Toss the assembled pasta salad in a simple oil-and-vinegar dressing. We like balsamic vinegar best, since its bright, sweet flavor melds brilliantly with basil and tomatoes—just like in a caprese salad!
- Seasonings and sugar: Whisk fresh basil, garlic, salt, pepper and brown sugar into the vinaigrette to add layers of flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Gild the lily by sprinkling Parmesan cheese over the salad just before serving. It adds a rich, umami taste that’s irresistible.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the pasta and add accoutrements
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process. Transfer the bow ties to a large bowl. Add the chicken, tomatoes, onion, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese.
Step 2: Make the dressing and toss the salad
In a small bowl, whisk the oil, basil, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, and toss to coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Swap in shrimp: Cooked shrimp make a tasty, slightly sweet alternative to the chicken.
- Add crunch: Add fresh vegetables to jazz up the texture: celery, water chestnuts, red or green peppers, spinach and/or cucumber. Walnuts or another nut would work too.
- Add a sour bite: Olives or capers add a briny taste to the dish.
- Change up the cheese: If you don’t have Gorgonzola on hand, toss in another type of cheese, such as blue cheese, goat cheese, Jarlsberg or feta.
- Skip the cheese: You can also omit the cheese altogether to make this a nondairy appetizer. To deliver some of the savory richness, try adding a sprinkle of nutritional yeast or a good vegan cheese.
- Reduce the sugar: If you like more of a tangy pasta salad, reduce or even cut the brown sugar in the vinaigrette.
- Try a creamy pasta salad: Prefer a smooth, comforting creamy pasta salad? Replace the balsamic vinaigrette with a creamy dressing, such as ranch or poppyseed.
How to Store Chicken Pasta Salad
This pasta salad tastes best the day it’s made; as it sits, the noodles will get a bit soft. Store any leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for up to three days. If the noodles are a bit tough, try serving it slightly warmed, and toss with a dash of olive oil and vinegar to rejuvenate the flavors.
Chicken Pasta Salad Tips
What mistakes should you avoid when making chicken pasta salad?
Soggy pasta salad is a sad pasta salad, so be sure not to overcook the noodles! Test them often in the last couple minutes of cooking, and remove from the heat when they still have a bite. Then, be sure to rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
Another common mistake is under-seasoned pasta salad, resulting in a bland dish. There’s no risk of that with this flavorful recipe, but if you want to play with the ingredients, make sure to include a mix of sweet and savory flavors.
What can you serve with chicken pasta salad?
Pasta salad is a classic picnic food, and this recipe is ideal since it doesn’t contain mayonnaise. It tastes delicious with other outdoor fare, such as focaccia sandwiches, veggies and fruit salad. No need to stick to summertime, though; this makes a welcome addition to any potluck table.
Serve chicken pasta salad for a weeknight dinner recipe too. It’s hearty enough to be a main dish, perhaps with a seasonal vegetable on the side. Opt for Parmesan asparagus in the spring, grilled corn in the summer or roasted broccoli in the winter. Or, keep it simple and serve alongside frozen peas or green beans year round. You also can’t go wrong with a loaf of crusty bread.
