Description
A vibrant and refreshing Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad combining tender chicken, al dente pasta, fresh vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and briny kalamata olives, all tossed in a light olive oil and lemon dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 cups cooked and diced chicken breast
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (for cooking and dressing)
- Salt and pepper to taste (for seasoning chicken)
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne or rotini pasta
Vegetables & Cheese
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste (for dressing)
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove from heat and let rest before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne or rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 9-11 minutes. Drain the pasta but do not rinse, as this helps retain flavor and texture.
- Prepare Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and finely chop the red onion.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and diced chicken, drained pasta, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and pitted kalamata olives. Toss gently to mix evenly.
- Add Dressing: Drizzle the mixture with the remaining 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently again to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving chilled to allow flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
- For added freshness, consider adding chopped fresh parsley or oregano.
- You can substitute grilled chicken with rotisserie chicken for a quicker version.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- This salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a vegan version, omit chicken and feta and add chickpeas and vegan cheese alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken pasta salad, pasta salad recipe, healthy chicken salad, feta pasta salad, cold pasta salad
