Description
This Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad is a delicious, easy-to-make dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch. Combining tender cooked chicken breast with rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, and a creamy dressing made from mayonnaise and Greek yogurt, it delivers a balanced mix of flavors and textures that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 2 cups rotini or penne pasta
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast, diced
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine salad ingredients: To the bowl with the dressing, add the cooked and diced chicken breast, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, and chopped green onions. Gently fold in the cooled pasta until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Garnish and serve: Before serving, garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve chilled as a refreshing and hearty meal or side dish.
Notes
- Use rotini or penne pasta for best results; other short pasta shapes work well too.
- For a lighter version, reduce mayonnaise and increase Greek yogurt.
- Cook chicken ahead of time or use rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Make sure to chill the pasta thoroughly to avoid a mushy salad.
- Adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice or mustard for more tang.
