Go Back
+ servings
Chicken Pasta Salad

Zesty Chicken Pasta Salad That's Perfect for Summer Picnics

This Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing and healthy dish perfect for summer picnics, featuring grilled chicken, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon parmesan dressing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 8 ounces short pasta (fusilli or penne)
  • 2 pieces chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
  • 1 cup cucumber chopped
  • 1 piece bell pepper diced (any color)
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • ¼ cup red onion finely chopped
  • ½ cup chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons green onion sliced (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
For Lemon Parmesan Dressing
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 piece lemon juiced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment

  • Medium jar
  • Grill
  • Large pot
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Spatula

Method
 

Make the Dressing
  1. In a medium jar, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, honey or maple syrup, grated Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until emulsified.
Prepare Chicken
  1. Pound the chicken breasts to even thickness, season with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before chopping.
Cook Pasta
  1. Boil salted water, add pasta, and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Combine Ingredients
  1. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped cucumber, diced bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, and chopped parsley. Add grilled chicken pieces.
Dress the Salad
  1. Drizzle the lemon Parmesan dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until well-coated.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 600mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

For a meal-prep-friendly option, keep the dressing separate until serving to prevent sogginess.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!