Description

This Chicken Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish perfect for light lunches or picnics. Featuring tender fusilli pasta tossed with a creamy Greek yogurt dressing, diced cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and herbs, it combines bright flavors and satisfying textures. The salad is chilled to meld the flavors before serving, making it a delicious and healthy option for warm days or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

8 ounces fusilli (or rotini) pasta

Dressing

½ cup Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ red onion, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt (plus more for pasta water)
½ teaspoon black pepper

Salad Mix-Ins

2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed

Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fusilli pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool.
Make the dressing: In a large serving bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, diced red onion, fresh dill, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and emulsified.
Combine pasta and dressing: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing and gently toss to fully coat the pasta in the creamy mixture.
Add the salad ingredients: Layer the diced cooked chicken, halved grape tomatoes, diced green bell pepper, and thawed corn on top of the dressed pasta. Toss everything together carefully until the ingredients are evenly distributed and coated with dressing.
Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill for a refreshing taste.

Notes

To save time, use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked chicken breast for the salad.
Thoroughly rinsing the pasta under cold water helps stop the cooking process and cools it for the salad.
This salad can be made a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator for convenience.
Add extra fresh herbs like parsley or basil for an additional flavor boost.
For a dairy-free version, substitute the Greek yogurt with a plant-based yogurt alternative.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Boiling
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken pasta salad, fusilli pasta salad, Greek yogurt dressing, cold pasta salad, healthy pasta salad