Zesty Chicken Pasta Salad

Welcome to the recipe for the Best Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad you’ll ever try! This delightful dish is a vibrant mix of tender pasta, succulent chicken, a medley of fresh, crisp vegetables, and a rich, creamy dressing that ties it all together. It’s robust enough to serve as a satisfying main course but also shines as a refreshing side dish, making it incredibly versatile for any meal or gathering.

Looking for a lighter, mayo-free alternative? Be sure to explore our Chicken Spinach Pasta Salad for a fresh and zesty twist!

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The Ultimate Pasta Salad That Excels on All Fronts!

As a devoted fan of creamy pasta salads, I can confidently say that this Chicken Pasta Salad has earned a permanent spot among my absolute favorites, standing proudly alongside classics like Macaroni Salad and the vibrant Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. This recipe truly embodies everything you could wish for in a perfect pasta salad experience.

Imagine perfectly cooked, tender pasta mixed with juicy chicken, crispy savory bacon, sweet corn, and a colorful array of fresh vegetables, all generously coated in a lusciously creamy and flavorful dressing. It’s a symphony of textures and tastes that will tantalize your taste buds.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its incredible convenience. With a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking microwave bacon, you can have this exquisite salad on your table in surprisingly little time. It’s wonderfully easy to customize with your favorite additions, incredibly quick to prepare, and guarantees rave reviews from everyone who tries it. Be prepared for requests for second helpings!

Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Chicken Pasta Salad

Crafting the perfect Chicken Pasta Salad begins with selecting fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and some tips for best results:

• Pasta: We highly recommend using rotini pasta for this salad. Its spiraled shape is fantastic at capturing and holding onto the creamy dressing and small vegetable pieces, ensuring every bite is flavorful. However, feel free to substitute with other short pasta shapes like penne, fusilli, or bow-tie pasta (farfalle) – they all work beautifully.
• Chicken: The key here is cooked chicken. For ultimate convenience, a store-bought rotisserie chicken is your best friend – simply shred or dice it. Alternatively, you can prepare your own chicken by grilling, baking, or even blackening chicken breasts. If you prefer a vegetarian pasta salad, simply omit the chicken entirely or replace it with chickpeas for added protein.
• Bacon: Crispy bacon adds an irresistible salty crunch and depth of flavor. While I often prefer to bake bacon for an even cook, microwave bacon offers a wonderfully quick and easy alternative when you’re short on time.
• Tomatoes: Sweet and juicy tomatoes add a burst of freshness. Grape tomatoes are ideal when halved, but diced larger tomatoes or even quartered cherry tomatoes can be used.
• Corn: Whether you choose frozen (ensure it’s thawed or lightly cooked), fresh kernels cut straight from the cob, or drained canned corn, this ingredient adds a lovely sweetness and texture.
• Bell Pepper: Add a pop of color and crispness with diced bell peppers. Red, yellow, or orange peppers are excellent choices. For an extra refreshing twist, consider adding diced cucumbers.
• Celery: Finely chopped celery contributes a distinct crunch and fresh, slightly peppery flavor. If you’re not a fan of celery, you can easily leave it out without compromising the salad’s overall appeal.
• Carrots: Grated carrots introduce a subtle sweetness and an attractive orange hue to the salad. A box grater makes quick work of preparing them.

Crafting the Irresistible Creamy Dressing:

The dressing is the heart and soul of this chicken pasta salad, bringing all the flavors together in a harmonious blend. It’s rich, tangy, and incredibly satisfying.

• Mayo and Sour Cream: The base of this luxurious dressing relies on a combination of mayonnaise and sour cream. For the best flavor and creamy texture, opt for a high-quality, full-fat mayonnaise. If you’re aiming for a slightly lighter dressing, you can substitute regular sour cream with a fat-free version.
• Flavor Enhancers: To elevate the dressing’s profile, we incorporate several key ingredients. Apple cider vinegar provides a crucial tanginess, cutting through the richness of the mayo and sour cream. Dijon mustard adds a subtle sharpness and depth. A touch of granulated sugar balances the acidity and enhances the sweetness of the vegetables. Finally, garlic powder infuses the dressing with an aromatic, savory note that complements all the other components beautifully.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad

Creating this delicious Chicken Pasta Salad is straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfectly mixed and flavorful dish:

1. Cook the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of water to a rolling boil. For enhanced flavor, remember to generously salt your pasta water. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until it reaches an al dente texture – firm to the bite but cooked through. Immediately after draining, rinse the pasta under cold water for about 20 seconds. This step is crucial to cool the pasta quickly and prevent it from sticking together, which is especially important for cold pasta salads. Shake off any excess water and let it cool completely.
2. Prepare Your Proteins: If using pre-cooked chicken, shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces. Cook your bacon until crispy, then let it cool slightly before dicing it finely.
3. Prep the Vegetables: While the pasta cools, prepare your fresh vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Dice the bell pepper and celery. Thaw any frozen corn you are using. Peel and grate the carrots quickly using a box grater for a fine texture that blends well.
4. Whisk the Dressing: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients: mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, granulated sugar, and garlic powder. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed to achieve your preferred flavor balance. Cover the dressing and refrigerate it until you’re ready to assemble the salad.
5. Combine All Ingredients: Once the pasta is thoroughly cooled, transfer it to a very large mixing bowl. Add the prepared chicken, diced bacon, and all your chopped and grated vegetables (tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, celery, carrots).
6. Mix and Season: Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently mix everything together using a large spoon or spatula, ensuring that all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing. Taste the salad again and make any final adjustments to the seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar if desired.
7. Chill and Serve: For the best flavor and texture, cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve the chicken pasta salad chilled or at room temperature.

Versatile Chicken Cooking Methods for Your Pasta Salad

Having perfectly cooked chicken is key for this pasta salad. Here are several easy methods, ranging from quick shortcuts to homemade options, allowing you to choose what best fits your schedule and preferences:

Classic Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad

By Chelsea Lords

This Chicken Pasta Salad is a game-changer! It’s brimming with fresh veggies, features an incredibly creamy homemade dressing, and perfectly tender pasta. It’s substantial enough to be a standalone main dish but also shines brightly as a versatile side for any gathering.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Servings: 10 (as a side)

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Equipment

• Large Pot
• Large Mixing Bowls
• Whisk

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 16 ounces rotini pasta (or preferred short pasta)
• 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or finely chopped (rotisserie is excellent)
• 1/2 cup (about 6 slices) finely chopped cooked bacon (microwave bacon is a quick option)
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1-1/4 cups frozen corn, thawed
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3/4 cup diced celery (from 2 to 3 stalks)
• 1 cup grated carrot (peeled, grated on a box grater, about 2 to 3 medium carrots)

For the Creamy Dressing:

• 1 cup full-fat mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste (approximately salt and pepper to your preference)

Instructions

1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of about 12 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and then the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta immediately and rinse it under cold water for about 20 seconds to prevent sticking. Shake off excess water thoroughly and set aside to cool completely.
2. Prepare Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, granulated sugar, and garlic powder until smooth. Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste (e.g., 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper). Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to use, allowing the flavors to meld.
3. Prepare Salad Components: Dice or shred the cooked chicken. Cook bacon until crispy, let it cool, then finely dice. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Ensure frozen corn is thawed (or quickly sauté fresh/canned corn). Dice the red bell pepper and celery. Peel and shred the carrots using the large holes of a box grater.
4. Assemble the Salad: In a very large mixing bowl, combine the completely cooled pasta, prepared chicken, diced bacon, and all the prepped vegetables (tomatoes, corn, bell pepper, celery, carrots).
5. Combine with Dressing: Pour the chilled dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently mix everything until all the pasta, chicken, and vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
6. Season and Serve: Taste the salad and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or a touch more vinegar if desired. For optimal flavor, cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

• Chicken Options: For ultimate ease, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Otherwise, you can grill, bake, or poach chicken breasts. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken or swap it for canned chickpeas.
• Bacon Convenience: While baking bacon yields a superior crisp, microwave bacon is a fantastic time-saving hack for this recipe. Feel free to skip the bacon if you prefer a different flavor profile or a vegetarian option.
• Corn Versatility: Fresh, frozen (thawed), or canned corn kernels all work well. If using frozen, make sure it’s fully thawed before adding to maintain the salad’s cool temperature.
• Make-Ahead & Storage: This salad can be made ahead. The pasta will absorb some dressing as it sits, so it’s a great idea to hold back about 1/4 cup of the dressing and stir it in just before serving leftovers to refresh the creaminess. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 53.3g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9.5g | Cholesterol: 50.6mg | Sodium: 98.3mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 6.3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.

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Chicken Pasta Salad FAQs

This creamy Chicken Pasta Salad is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to enjoy simple, delicious, and versatile home cooking. Whether you’re whipping it up for a quick family meal, preparing a dish for a summer picnic, or needing a reliable potluck contribution, this salad promises to deliver on flavor and satisfaction. Enjoy every hearty, creamy, and fresh bite!