Chicken Pasta Salad
User Reviews
4.9
Chicken Pasta Salad
Description
The Chicken Pasta Salad brings together penne or fusilli pasta cooked until tender, then mixed with sautéed chicken breast and bacon for savory protein elements. A vibrant medley of vegetables including kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, green onions (scallions), spinach, and fresh basil add brightness and freshness.
The dressing consists of mayonnaise combined with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, coating the ingredients in a creamy tanginess. Feta cheese added just before serving introduces a salty creaminess that complements the other components. The salad is best served immediately to enjoy contrast between textures and flavors.
This recipe allows flexibility for substitutions such as using rotisserie chicken to save time or swapping the proteins and cheeses according to preference. The inclusion of a variety of vegetables adds both crunch and leafy elements to the salad, enhancing complexity and nutrition.
Fresh herbs like basil, chives, or dill are recommended to brighten the dish further. The recipe cautions against using long pastas such as spaghetti to preserve the intended texture balance.
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta (penne or fusilli work well)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 rasher Bacon
- 150 g chicken breast chopped into chunks
- 10 kalamata olives destoned and halved
- 10 cherry tomato quartered
- 4 tablespoon basil chopped, fresh
- 4 spring onion sliced, aka scallion
- 0.5 red bell pepper chopped
- 0.5 green bell pepper
- 0.25 cucumber diced
- 0.5 lemon juice only
- 4 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 Pinch sea salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
- 30 g spinach
- 60 g feta cheese
Instructions
- Put200 g Pasta in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.
- Add 1 teaspoon Olive oil to a frying pan and once hot, add 150 g Chicken breast and cook for 6 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
- Add 3 rasher Bacon to the pan and cook for 3 minutes, making sure the chicken is cooked through too.
- Add 10 Kalamata olives, 10 Cherry tomatoes, 4 Spring onion (Scallion), 0.5 Red bell pepper, 0.5 Green bell pepper, 0.25 Cucumber and 30 g Spinach to a large bowl.
- Put the pasta, chicken and bacon into the bowl. Add juice of 0.5 Lemon, 4 tablespoon Mayonnaise, 4 tablespoon Fresh basil and 1 Pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper and mix well.
- Top with 60 g Feta and serve immediately.
Notes
- Using rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken reduces preparation time.
- Chicken can be replaced with turkey, ham, halloumi, or omitted for a vegetarian dish.
- Honey and mustard vinaigrette is an alternative to the creamy mayonnaise dressing.
- Mixing crunchy and leafy vegetables improves texture variety.
- Choose short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli rather than long shapes.
- Feta can be substituted with goat cheese or blue cheese.
- Fresh herbs such as chives or dill enhance flavor complexity.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 336 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 336kcal | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 314mg | 13% |
| Potassium | 519mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 1710IU | 34% |
| Vitamin C | 54mg | 60% |
| Calcium | 46mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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