Description
This Chicken Pasta Salad is a colorful and delicious dish that brings together tender grilled chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy mozzarella cheese, all drizzled with a zesty homemade Italian dressing. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or a quick weeknight meal, it’s not only vibrant in color but also packed with flavor. With the perfect balance of lean protein and fresh veggies, this salad is both satisfying and refreshing. Plus, it can be made ahead of time and tastes even better the next day!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup cucumber, quartered and sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup kalamata olives, halved
- ¾ cup small mozzarella balls
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1¼ cups Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup apple vinegar
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp finely minced red bell pepper
- 1½ tsp dried minced onion
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¾ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Grill chicken breasts brushed with olive oil and Italian seasoning on medium-high heat until fully cooked. Let cool before slicing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and mozzarella.
- Whisk together parsley, Italian dressing, olive oil, apple vinegar, grated Parmesan cheese, dried herbs, spices, salt, sugar, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
- Add cooked pasta and sliced chicken to the vegetable mixture; pour dressing over everything and toss gently to combine.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg