Chicken bacon pasta salad is one of those recipes I pull out when I want something easy that people will be excited to eat. The bacon is what makes it amazing. Combined with the chicken, sharp cheddar, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, it turns a simple pasta salad into something special. No mayo here, just a light red wine vinegar dressing that lets all the good stuff shine.
I don’t know about y’all, but where I live, it gets HOT in the summertime. So we are always looking for recipes that are filling but cool, and this chicken and bacon pasta salad fits every requirement.
We serve this pasta salad quite a bit during the warmer months, but it’s tasty all year. It’s a perfect accompaniment to seasonal fall vegetables.
Testing chicken and bacon pasta salad
- We tried making this pasta salad with seashells and long noodles, and preferred the rotini. The little nooks and crannies allow the dressing to wind its way around the whole piece of pasta. 👌🏻
- While I’m partial to homemade salad dressings, like my lemon vinaigrette, we did make this salad using Ken’s Steak House Red Wine Vinaigrette, and it was delicious. You can’t go wrong either way.
- We used rotisserie chicken, which has so much flavor and is a huge timesaver.
I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!
Don’t miss our other yummy pasta salads, like our Greek Orzo Salad with Feta, a delightful orzo salad that’s gorgeous on a brunch or bridal shower table. We also have a Pesto Pasta Salad, a salad inspired by a pasta dish I had years ago at TGIFridays. And our kid-favorite Pizza Pasta Salad, which is exactly what it says.
Ingredient notes
Here are a few things to know about the ingredients in this recipe.
➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.
Dressing: We love this dressing recipe, but when crunched for time, we will definitely pull out the bottled dressing. Our recommendation is for Ken’s Steak House red wine vinaigrette.
Chicken: Our favorite for this recipe is a rotisserie chicken. It’s a shortcut, and it makes the pasta salad taste amazing.
Cheese: We’re using Cheddar cheese in this salad because it’s a little like a BLT with cheese. However, you can omit the cheese if you prefer. Your chicken pasta salad will still be delicious.
Pin this now to save it for laterHow to make chicken bacon pasta salad
- Cook and drain the pasta.
- Add all the salad ingredients to the pasta and stir gently.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and pour over the pasta salad.
Instructions
Cook the 1 lb. rotini pasta or any short pasta as directed on the package.
In a large salad bowl, add the cooked pasta, 1 ½ cups cooked, shredded chicken, 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped, 2 cups halved grape tomatoes, 3 green onions, sliced, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 cup chopped baby spinach, ¼ cup chopped basil, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
In a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon old style mustard, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil until well mixed.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad, and toss all the ingredients until well combined.
You can serve it immediately or place it in the fridge for 1 hour to allow the flavor to develop more.
Serving: 1cup, Calories: 490kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 493mg, Potassium: 353mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 904IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 129mg, Iron: 2mg
Questions and tips
Storage
Store the chicken bacon pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Yes, you can prepare this dish ahead of time! In fact, it’s best to assemble all the ingredients and combine the dressing a few hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together so the pasta salad is even tastier.
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