Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad – Packed with flavor, protein and veggies! This healthy chicken pasta salad is loaded with tomatoes, avocado, and fresh basil. If you’re looking for a nutritious salad for lunch or recipes ideas for a potluck, this chunky chicken salad will be one of the best options in your arsenal. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the Chicken Pasta Salad
- 2 medium cooked chicken breasts, shredded or chopped (we used rotisserie chicken)
- 2 ripe avocado pitted and diced
- 1 pound cooked rotini pasta or similar
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup freshly chopped basil
- Salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Dressing
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
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 this healthy chicken pasta salad recipe: In a large bowl, add the salad ingredients, the shredded chicken, avocado, onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and basil.
2. In a jar, combine the ingredients for the dressing: vinegar, Italian seasoning, Olive oil, salt and pepper.
3. Drizzle your chicken pasta salad with the dressing. Toss gently until all the ingredients are combined. Serve the chicken pasta salad immediately, or chill for later. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken pasta salad
This chicken pasta salad is healthy, perfect for busy nights, and makes a big enough batch so you can plan for work or school lunches. Since there’s no mayo it’s great for potlucks, picnics, and parties.
- Additional add-ins that go well with this salad would include chopped cucumber, crispy bacon, corn, olives, black beans…
- To keep the avocado from turning brown, coat the avocado in either lemon juice or lime juice. It will act as an antioxidant.
- 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 avocado and tomato until you are ready to serve the chicken pasta salad to keep the ingredients as fresh as possible.
Can I grill chicken instead of using rotisserie 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 chicken doesn’t burn while undercooked in the inside. When out of fresh chicken, we like to use a bag of frozen grilled organic chicken breasts that we heat up in a skillet and use for the salad.
What’s the Best Pasta for the Chicken Pasta Salad?
We like a classic rotini pasta salad, because rotini holds the dressing pretty well, but any sturdy pasta will work! Avoid spaghetti and long pastas such as tagliatelle. Rotini, bow tie, penne, and macaroni are all good alternatives for this chicken pasta salad recipe.
How to Store the Chicken Pasta Salad?
This chicken pasta salad keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days if stored in an air-tight container. Don’t keep it for more than that because avocado will turn brown ultimately. You may have to toss up the chicken pasta salad leftovers to redistribute the dressing before serving. If you want to make it ahead of time, just omit the avocado, you’ll add them at the very last minute.
What other readers say about this chicken pasta salad
“This was so good and the perfect lunch. Changes: I added black olives, cucumber and matchstick carrots. I forgot to add the basil and it was fine without it.” – Maureen
“Just made this chicken pasta salad for our dinner. Will definitely make it again. Perfect for summer. Added some fire roasted corn and served the dressing on the side with croutons.” – Nancy
“Delicious! Husband loved it! Will be making it again!” – Laura
“The boys ate three plates each, this salad is a keeper!” – Deja
“Easy, healthy and cheap recipe; delicious! Added extra lemon juice and a touch of balsamic in the end. Will definitely be making this chicken salad again!” – Jamie
More chicken salad recipes
- Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad
- Blackened Chicken and Avocado Salad
- Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Pesto, Avocado, and Tomato
- Roasted Chicken Parmesan Kale Salad
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
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