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Chicken Pasta Salad with Cucumber and Sun-Dried Tomato – Packed with flavor, texture, and color! This Italian-inspired chicken pasta salad with cucumber, dried tomatoes and mozzarella is simple to make and super delicious. Loaded with chicken, pasta, mozzarella, and veggies this salad is tossed in a rich tomato sauce for the perfect meal. Everyone will love this chicken pasta salad recipe, and you probably won’t have to worry about leftovers!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad
- 3/4 pound (350g) pasta shells
- 1 pound (450g) cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup ground tomatoes (also known as tomato purée or crushed tomatoes)
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/4 pound (100g) sun-dried tomatoes, drained from oil and cut into strips
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 pound (225g) cherry tomatoes, halved
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the chicken pasta salad: Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions.
2. In the meantime, in a large bowl, combine round tomatoes (pureed tomatoes), balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to your liking with salt and pepper.
3. Rinse the pasta with cold water, drain, then mix with the tomato-balsamic dressing. Add the remaining ingredients into the salads bowl: chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumber and cherry tomatoes.
4. Mix everything well, adjust seasoning again if necessary. Serve the chicken pasta salad immediately or chill until serving. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken pasta salad recipe
This chicken pasta salad is easy, ready in 15 minutes, and features some of our favorite summer ingredients. It’s perfect for summer potlucks and BBQs, or as a no-fuss family dinner for a warm evening.
- Additional add-ins that go well with this salad would include chopped olives, fresh basil, feta cheese…
- Being a cold chicken pasta salad makes it perfect for summer, picnics or potlucks. You can make it up to a day in advance, leaving the dressing and tomatoes until you are ready to serve the chicken pasta salad. So you’ll keep the ingredients as fresh as possible.
Can we grill chicken instead of using cooked chicken?
Yes, of course, you can grill chicken for this salad. Make sure to grill chicken breasts or pan-sear on medium-low heat, so the chicken doesn’t burn while undercooked on the inside. After grilling, allow resting for 10 minutes before slicing.
How long to keep the chicken pasta salads recipe
The pasta salad can stay in the fridge for a day or two in a tightly closed container.
More chicken salad recipes you might like
- Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad
- Healthy Spinach Chicken Salad with Cauliflower
- Spinach Corn Feta Chicken Salad
- Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
