Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

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This chicken pasta salad has all the umami flavor you crave in a good pasta salad, along with tender chunks of chicken, fresh basil and tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and a surprise ingredient that really hits a home run.

You can easily use a rotisserie chicken to make life easier. But cooking some chicken from scratch is just as good. Do what works best for you. This recipe assumes your chicken is already cooked.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you sure can. Make it up to 24 hours in advance, but don’t add the dressing until you are ready to eat.

What can I use instead of coconut aminos?

If you can’t find coconut aminos, good substitutes are soy sauce or tamari. If you switch to one of these, add the salt with caution because they tend to be saltier than coconut aminos. The suggested salt amount is based on using coconut aminos.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, you can. Use any type of pasta you prefer or have handy. This recipe works with any type of pasta.

Can I make this salad vegetarian?

Yep! You can replace the chicken with chickpeas, tofu, or any plant-based protein you prefer. I like chickpea tofu (which is great if you can’t have soy.)

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh basil?

Yes and no. You can certainly make the switch, but the flavor of the salad will definitely change. Dried basil is wonderful, but it will never give you the same flavor as the fresh stuff.

Is there a dairy-free option?

Yep! Just don’t use the parmesan cheese. If you still want to sprinkle something on top, try a plant-based parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast. Both will work well here.

Can I serve this warm instead of as a cold salad?

If you want to serve this warm, you’ll want to serve it directly after making it because reheating is not recommended for this recipe.

Can I add more veggies?

Absolutely! Good veggies to try here are chopped bell peppers, cucumbers, spinach, or zucchini.

What is the best way to cook the chicken for this recipe?

If you need to cook your chicken first, you can bake or grill it for chopped chicken. If you prefer to shred the chicken, then boiling or slow cooking are your best options. Or you can do what I did and use a rotisserie chicken.

What To Serve With Chicken Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is really versatile, which means you can serve an endless number of things along with it. But if you need some suggestions, try any of these:

• Garlic bread
• Roasted vegetables
• Caprese skewers
• Mixed green salad
• Grilled corn on the cob
• Tomato basil soup
• Minestrone soup
• Antipasto platter
• Marinated olives
• Fresh fruit salad
• Crudité with hummus
• Grilled shrimp skewers
• Bruschetta

About The Ingredients

Cooked chopped or shredded chicken – You can use any cooked chicken you have handy. Otherwise, you’ll want to cook some first. This recipe assumes your chicken is already cooked.

Whole grain penne pasta – Use any pasta you are most comfortable using. I usually use a bean-based pasta which has the added benefits of being higher in protein and gluten-free.

Cherry tomatoes – You can use big tomatoes that you chop small if you wish, but cherry tomatoes work best here.

Red onion – Chop this as fine as you can for the best results.

Coconut aminos – Or soy sauce. This is that secret ingredient that adds lots of umami flavor to the dish.

Grated parmesan cheese – Or whatever cheese you prefer.

Fresh basil – Chop this fine.

Prepared yellow mustard – No sugar added. Many mustards do have added sugar, so read the ingredient list.

Fresh garlic cloves – I prefer to press my garlic in recipes like this so I don’t end up getting a harsh bite of garlic. But if you don’t have a press, mince it as fine as you can get it.

Extra virgin olive oil – Or whatever oil you feel most comfortable using.

Salt

Black pepper

Italian herbs

How To Make Chicken Pasta Salad

Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients until you have a well-blended dressing. Set aside while you make the salad.

Salad

Boil pasta according to instructions. When done, drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl or pasta bowl.

Add chopped cooked chicken, onion, cherry tomatoes, and chopped fresh basil, as well as the dressing, and toss well to coat everything in the dressing.

Garnish

Sprinkle on the parmesan and serve.

Storage

Leftover chicken pasta salad should be wrapped well in an airtight container and can be stored in the fridge for up to three days.

Freezing

Freezing is not recommended for this recipe.

Reheating

Reheating is not necessary and not really recommended. Serve this chilled straight from the fridge for lunch the next day. But if you must reheat it, a microwave is your best option.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

• Cavatappi Pasta Salad
• Tuna Pasta Salad
• Avocado Pasta Salad

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