This delicious summer salad has just right amount of creaminess that is tangy yet a perfect balance of sweetness. It is high in protein, loaded with local veggies and fresh herbs are all coated with a light creamy yogurt dressing. Serve it at your next bbq gathering or as a meal.
This light creamy yogurt dressing I made for this salad is just the right amount of creaminess for this recipe. It is fresh, flavourful and so satisfying that you can enjoy it as a meal. It is perfect to take to work for lunch, as I often did. Leftovers were my go-to lunch meals while I was working. I would get so exciting when it came to lunchtime to have something that was so tasty and gratifying.
Pasta salads are perfect for summer to serve at a family gathering, or try taking it to lunch at work, or simply make it as a meal. They are so versatile with some many options of vegetables. As most are pasta with veggies and this recipe is loaded with protein, chicken, bacon and Greek yogurt.
INGREDIENTS
SALAD
- Pasta: types of pasta for this recipe are fusilli, macaroni, penne, rotini
- Cooked Chicken: either baked, grilled or pan-seared chicken
- Bacon: use lean cut bacon
- Vegetables: broccoli, cherry or grape tomatoes, pepper, spring onions
- Herbs: fresh parsley and fresh basil
- Parmesan cheese
DRESSING
- Extra virgin olive oil: recommend a good quality evoo
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- Garlic
- Greek Yogurt
- sea salt and pepper
WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT…
- LOADED with veggies that are high in nutrients, vibrant and adds a variety of textures
- HIGH in protein with a serve size will provide over 19g per serving
- LEFTOVERS are often neglected or forgotten and this recipe is a great way to avoid any waste and that includes your veggies. I have created many dishes using vegetables that needed to be used up.
- MAKE AHEAD for your lunches or a bbq gathering is a great way to plan ahead.
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add salt and cook pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
Cook bacon until slightly crispy, set aside on paper towel and allow to cool. Cut into bite size pieces.
In a large bowl, add cut chicken, bacon, cherry or grape tomatoes, coloured pepper, spring onions, and parsley.
Dressing: Using a measuring cup, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, yogurt, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, and toss ingredients until they are well coated with the dressing. Cover the pasta salad and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will allow the flavours from the dressing to blend with the pasta and vegetables. When ready to serve, give it another toss and enjoy as a side or a main dish.
VARIATIONS
When making a pasta salad we all know we can make our dishes to our liking or ones we know our family, especially kids will eat. Here are a few alternatives and variations to this pasta salad recipe.
Protein: chicken is an excellent choice for this recipe and there are a few variations of how to cook your chicken, here I pan-seared it for about 8-10 minutes on each side and it depends on the thickness. Always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness of 165 F. Baked takes about 30 minutes and grilling about 10 minutes on each side for a 7-9 oz breast. Make sure you season with salt, pepper, dry basil and oregano. Drizzle with olive oil. Other protein options are fish, salmon or tuna, legumes, chickpeas and lentils, tofu, shrimp or turkey.
Vegetables: Since I had many of these vegetables on hand, you can use what you have in your refrigerator or make a trip to your local market. You can substitute with cauliflower, asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, celery, olives or red cabbage.
Fresh, flavourful and very satisfying pasta salad your family will love!! The seasoned chicken and bacon add so much flavour to this dish that I know kids and adults alike will love it!
STORE this pasta salad in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in a container with a sealed lid. As mentioned you can make this salad ahead and allow the flavours come together for a more of a robust taste.
DID YOU MAKE THIS DELICIOUS RECIPE….WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK WITH A COMMENT AND RATING! Thank you Rose 🙂
Chicken Pasta Salad with Yogurt Dressing
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Salad: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add salt and cook pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside.
- Cook bacon until slightly crispy, set aside on paper towel and allow to cool. Cut into bite size pieces.
- In a large bowl, add cut chicken, bacon, cherry or grape tomatoes, coloured pepper, spring onions, and parsley. Add pasta once it is completely drained.
- Dressing: Using a measuring cup, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, yogurt, salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, and toss ingredients until they are well coated with the dressing.
- Cover the pasta salad and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will enhance the flavours with all of the ingredients. When ready to serve, give it another toss and enjoy as a side or a main dish.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve cold.
2 Responses
Thank you for the recipe for this healthy delicious pasta salad. With the yogurt dressing it was soooo refreshing and flavourful. Thankyou again.
Thank you so much Marilyn for your comment and rating. I am so pleased you enjoyed this pasta salad! It is a great recipe!