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Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
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This Italian Chicken Pasta Salad is a bright, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish combining tender chicken, al dente pasta, fresh vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for quick lunches, picnics, or potlucks, it offers a balanced blend of protein and vibrant flavors in a refreshing cold salad.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta & Protein

  • 8 ounces penne or rotini pasta
  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced

Vegetables & Herbs

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Dressing & Cheese

  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta for mixing.
  2. Prepare the Chicken: Grill, bake, or pan-sear chicken breasts seasoned simply with salt and pepper. Once cooked through, allow to rest before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Chop the Vegetables: While the pasta cooks and chicken cools, halve cherry tomatoes, slice cucumbers into thin rounds, finely chop red onion, and roughly chop fresh basil and parsley.
  4. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, gently toss together pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives, and herbs with the Italian dressing until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Add Cheese and Chill: Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the salad and give a final toss. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.

Notes

  • Use room temperature dressing to enhance flavors before tossing with salad.
  • Don’t overcook pasta; keep it al dente to maintain perfect texture after chilling.
  • Prep chicken and vegetables ahead of time to save time.
  • Toss ingredients gently to avoid mashing delicate veggies.
  • Chill the salad before serving for better flavor integration and refreshing taste.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian Chicken Pasta Salad, pasta salad, chicken salad, easy lunch, picnic recipe, healthy pasta, gluten-free pasta salad

Find it online: https://linacorner.com/italian-chicken-pasta-salad/