Description
A refreshing and hearty Chicken Bow Tie Pasta Salad featuring grilled chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, colorful cherry tomatoes, and tender bow tie pasta, all tossed together and served with your choice of dressings, seasoned croutons, and shredded Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base
- 4 to 5 heads romaine lettuce, rinsed then chopped
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and lemon pepper seasoning, to taste
- 1 pound farfalle (bow tie) pasta
- 1 to 2 cups cherry tomatoes, rinsed then sliced
Toppings and Dressings
- Seasoned croutons
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
- Assorted dressings: Ranch, Creamy Poppyseed, Caesar, Raspberry Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Prepare the lettuce: Rinse the romaine lettuce thoroughly in water and pat dry using paper towels. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, place in a large serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate to chill until ready to assemble.
- Cook the chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 6 minutes on each side or until thoroughly cooked through. Remove from heat, place on a platter, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for a few minutes before slicing into bite-size pieces.
- Prepare the pasta: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the farfalle pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the noodles.
- Assemble the salad: Add the sliced cooked chicken, cooled pasta, and sliced cherry tomatoes to the chilled bowl of chopped romaine lettuce. Toss gently with salad tongs to combine evenly.
- Serve: Present the salad with assorted dressings, seasoned croutons, and shredded Parmesan cheese on the side for guests to customize to their taste. Enjoy your fresh and satisfying Chicken Bow Tie Pasta Salad!
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in lemon juice and herbs before cooking.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need the salad to be gluten-free.
- Chilling the lettuce beforehand ensures the salad stays crisp and refreshing.
- Leftover salad can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 days; add croutons just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Feel free to substitute grilled chicken with rotisserie chicken for quicker preparation.
