5.0 from 3 votes
Chicken BLT Pasta Salad
A family favorite! Chicken, bacon, spinach and tomato come together in this easy BLT pasta salad recipe. Perfect for potlucks and picnics!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 449 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 6 lices Bacon
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 pound orzo pasta
- 1 cup (packed) Fresh Spinach Leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
- 8 ounces Grape or Cherry Tomatoes cut in half
The vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons honey or agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 large basil leaves chiffonaded (rolled & thinly sliced)
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat, cook bacon until crunchy. Set aside on a piece of paper towel to drain. When cool, crumble the bacon (not too small) and reserve.
- Pour out all but 2 teaspoons of the bacon grease from the pan, increase the heat to medium-high, and add chicken. Saute until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook orzo until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a serving bowl. Gently stir the chicken, bacon, spinach, and tomatoes into the orzo.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the orzo and gently toss. Stir the basil into the pasta salad. Serve.
Cup of Yum
The vinaigrette:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. While whisking constantly, slow pour in olive oil until combined.
Notes
- Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using the built-in WP Recipe Maker plugin calculator. While I attempt to provide information that is as accurate as possible, you should calculate the nutritional information independently before relying on it.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1portion (⅛ of recipe)
Calories
449kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
46g
(15%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
29mg
(10%)
Sodium
462mg
(19%)
Potassium
506mg
(14%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
3041IU
(61%)
Vitamin C
14mg
(16%)
Calcium
48mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 449
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1portion (⅛ of recipe) | |
| Calories | 449kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 46g | 15% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 29mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 462mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 506mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 3041IU | 61% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 48mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.