This Cold Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe is my all-time favorite summer salad! It always goes first at any get-together, potluck, or BBQ. Not to mention it’s easy to prepare and great for meal prep! 

Looking for more pasta salad recipes? Try our Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad and Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad! 

chicken pasta salad in a white bowl garnished wiht basil. this recipe
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This Cold Chicken Pasta Salad is Perfect for Your Next Potluck

Pasta salads are essential for spring and summer, and this pasta salad with chicken is a dish my whole family adores! A twist on classic cold chicken pasta salad recipes, it’s hearty, tangy, and full of protein and nutrients. 

Plus, it’s a great way to use up leftover roasted half chicken and any leftover veggies you have on hand. Just boil the pasta, combine the ingredients, and transfer it to the fridge. The only difficult part is waiting for the salad to chill. 

That said, it tastes even better the longer it sits and is best served cold. That means it’s great to prepare in advance and serve for picnics, potlucks, and quick, weekday meals. 

Go ahead and make a double batch, because it always disappears fast, just like our recipe for tomato salad. Trust me. You won’t regret it! 

Why You’ll Love This Chicken and Pasta Salad

  • Flavor-Filled – This pasta salad with chicken is savory, tangy, and easy to customize to suit your preferences. 
  • Versatile – Made with lean protein, healthy fats, carbs, and veggies, this recipe is filling and nutritious enough to enjoy as a complete meal on its own. However, it also works well as a side dish with a variety of main dishes. 
  • Easy – You can prep all the ingredients in about 15 minutes or less. Then, all that’s left to do is wait while the dish chills in the fridge. 

Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

salad ingredients for pasta salad with chicken.
  • Pasta: Use short-cut pasta such as fusilli, rotini, or penne. 
  • Cooked chicken breast: Use grilled sliced chicken breast, roasted chicken breast, or shredded rotisserie chicken.
  • Veggies: Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion contribute vibrant color, a crisp texture, and nutrients. 
  • Black olives: I love black olives but Kalamata olives will work too. 
  • Basil: Use fresh basil for the best results. 
  • Parmesan cheese: For the best taste and texture, use a block of Parmesan, and grate it yourself. 

Best Dressing for Chicken Pasta Salad

We use a homemade creamy dressing for this chicken pasta salad recipe. Here are the ingredients you need: 

dressing ingredients for chicken pasta salad.
  • Mayonnaise and Greek yogurt: We use this combination for the base of the dressing to create a rich, tangy flavor with a little less fat and more protein than other dressings. 
  • Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is best. 
  • Red wine vinegar: This can be substituted for apple cider vinegar. 
  • Garlic: Use whole, fresh cloves, and mince them finely. 
  • Dijon mustard: Adds a tangy depth to the dressing. 

How to Make Pasta Salad With Chicken

If not using pre-made chicken, you’ll want to cook the chicken before you begin. Then, let the chicken rest as you prepare the rest of the ingredients. Check out the recipe card below for detailed instructions. 

dressing ingredients in a glass bowl.

Step 1: To a small glass bowl, add dressing ingredients.

whisked dressing for pasta salad in a bowl.

Step 2: Whisk together the dressing ingredients.

pasta salad covered with dressing in a glass bowl.

Step 3: Add the chicken, vegetables, olives, basil, and cheese to the bowl with the pasta. Pour dressing over the pasta salad.

pasta salad tossed with dressing.

Step 4: Gently toss the pasta salad with the dressing. Season to taste. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Making Cold Chicken Pasta Salad Ahead of Time

This cold chicken pasta salad requires at least 30 minutes of chilling time before serving and stores well in the fridge. In fact, it tastes even better as it sets, because the flavors have more time to meld together. As a result, it’s great to prepare for meal prep throughout the week! 

Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe Variations

  • Use leftover chicken, roasted chicken, grilled chicken tenders, or rotisserie chicken. Or, switch it up with any other leftover protein of choice such as tuna or grilled shrimp.
  • Incorporate diced avocado, green onions, sliced grilled vegetables, or cooked bacon. 
  • Swap the Parmesan cheese with feta cheese or blue cheese crumbles. 
  • Omit the meat, and add chickpeas for a vegetarian recipe. 
  • Mix and match different herbs and seasonings such as Italian seasoning or fresh parsley to switch up the flavor. 

Tips for Making Chicken Pasta Salad

  • Cook the pasta just to al dente. It will continue to cook when you take it out of the pot and absorb the liquid from the dressing, which softens it further. 
  • Don’t skip the chilling! This helps all the flavors blend together for a more flavorful dish.
  • Slice the chicken and veggies into small pieces so you get a little bit of all the ingredients in every bite. 
pasta salad with chicken in a white bowl.

Serving Pasta Salad With Chicken

This recipe serves well chilled as a main dish or side dish. It pairs well with just about anything, but some of our favorite options include: 

How to Store Pasta Chicken Salad

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Just be sure to give it a good stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving, and feel free to add an extra splash of dressing to freshen it back up. 

This recipe does not freeze well as the pasta tends to become mushy. 

You May Also Like

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If you try our Pasta Chicken Salad, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.

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pasta salad with chicken in a white bowl.

Pasta Chicken Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 20 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This cold Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe comes together with cooked chicken, fresh veggies, tangy olives, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Tossed with a homemade creamy dressing, it’s easy to prepare and great for meal prep! 

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 8 oz. fusilli, rotini, or penne pasta
  • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • Kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta until al dente in salted water according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, red onion, olives, basil, and Parmesan cheese.
  3. Whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and Dijon mustard in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Pour the dressing over the pasta and gently toss until everything is evenly coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
  5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Before serving, give the salad a final toss and taste for salt and pepper.

Notes

  • Chop into even pieces: Chop the chicken and veggies into uniform pieces so you get a little bit of all the ingredients in every bite. 
  • Don’t skip chilling the salad: This helps all the flavors meld together for a more flavorful salad.
  • Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a good stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving, and feel free to add an extra splash of dressing to freshen it back up. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 466
  • Sugar: 3.4 g
  • Sodium: 376.9 mg
  • Fat: 24.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 33.3 g
  • Protein: 26.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 69.2 mg