Description
Summery Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light summer meal. It combines tender rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese tossed with a zesty lemon herb dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing:
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 Tbsp dried dill
- 2 tsp minced garlic (2 cloves)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Salad:
- 2 ears fresh yellow corn
- 16 oz mini bow tie pasta
- 12 slices (12 oz) bacon, cooked, drained and chopped
- 12 oz grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups chopped English cucumber
- 1 cup chopped green onions
- 3 1/2 cups cooked shredded rotisserie chicken, chilled
- 1/4 cup pasta water, or more as needed
Instructions
- Prepare Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate.
- Cook Corn and Pasta: Boil corn for 4 minutes, then cut kernels. Cook pasta al dente, reserving pasta water.
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, mix pasta, corn, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, green onions, and chicken.
- Toss with Dressing: Add dressing and pasta water, toss to coat. Adjust seasoning.
- Chill and Serve: For best flavor, chill salad for 1-2 hours before serving.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Feel free to add other favorite vegetables or swap ingredients based on preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 575 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 88mg
Keywords: Chicken Pasta Salad, Summer Salad, Picnic Food
