Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe combines elbow macaroni and cooked rotisserie chicken with the flavors of crispy smoked crumbled bacon, grape tomatoes, diced avocado, and green onions, in a creamy mayonnaise dressing with a touch of honey, garlic, and mustard. This delicious side dish is ideal for a spring or summer lunch or light dinner. It also makes for a great potluck, family reunion, neighborhood social, or pool party dish.
How to make Chicken Pasta Salad
Start by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions and drain well. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, pressed garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, cooked chicken, chopped cooked bacon, tomato, and green onion. Then gently toss the diced avocado with the lemon juice and add it to the bowl. Now add the dressing and toss to coat. For best results, serve promptly.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- You can use any cooked, diced, or shredded chicken, including but not limited to rotisserie chicken breast, poached, grilled, or baked.
- Cook the pasta slightly al dente, which means slightly undercooked or a little bit firm, so it holds up well to being stirred with other ingredients and a moderately thick mayo dressing.
- The dressing can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to combine.
- Do not skip the step of gently tossing the avocado with lemon juice. This really slows down the avocado browning process.
- You can prepare the salad up to 1 day in advance; however, for best results, do not dice or add the avocado and the bacon until right before serving.
- For a change of pace, try adding roasted chopped asparagus, blanched peas, fresh chopped basil, or fresh chopped dill.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad should stay fresh for up to 2 days as long as the avocado does not brown.
What to serve with Chicken Pasta Salad
- Easy Gazpacho Recipe
- Cherry Lemonade
- Roasted Vegetables
- Fruit Salad
- Arugula Salad
- Homemade Breadsticks
- Four Bean Salad
- Creamy Asparagus Soup
- Watermelon
- Strawberry Daiquiri
More pasta salads you will love!
Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 3 cups cooked chicken
- 6 slices bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 2 green onions thinly sliced
- 1 avocado peeled seeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 cloves garlic pressed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the elbow pasta (al dente) according to package directions and drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, pressed garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, cooked chicken, crumbled cooked bacon, halved tomatoes, and green onions. In a small bowl, gently toss the diced avocado with the lemon juice and add it to the bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. For best results, serve promptly.
Notes
- You can use any cooked diced or shredded chicken including but not limited to rotisserie chicken breast, poached, grilled, or baked.
- Cook the pasta slightly al dente which means slightly undercooked or a little bit firm so it holds up well to being stirred with other ingredients and a moderately thick mayo dressing.
- The dressing can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to combine.
- Do not skip the step of gently tossing the avocado with lemon juice. This really slows down the avocado browning process.
- You can prepare the salad up to 1 day in advance however for best results do not dice or add the avocado and the bacon until right before serving.
- For a change of pace try adding roasted chopped asparagus, blanched peas. fresh chopped basil, or fresh chopped dill.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad should stay fresh fresh for up to 2 days as long as the avocado does not brown.
Nutrition
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dorry lyn
thanks for sharing this recipe. you just gave me an idea on what food to bring for familys gathering this weekend
Krystle
The perfect dinner for these hot nights. Great for lunch the next day too.
Fransic verso
This look so good. And would love to try it. I’m going to save this recipe on the list. Thank you for sharing it!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure!
briannemanzb
This chicken pasta salad is packed with flavors and so delicious. I like to make this for a quick weeknight dinner for the family, or take it to parties and picnics. Thank you for your recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Brianne! So happy that you like it!
Stephanie
What a perfect dish for summertime! I’m going to make this when we have a pool day with our friends next weekend.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Stephanie! Enjoy!
Autumn Murray
I am not a fan of chicken pasta salad, but my sister is. Just sent a link to your article to her and pinned to my salad board for fans of this dish.
Maureen
It’s been awhile since I have had chicken pasta salad but my family loves it! This looks delicious and perfect for those relaxed backyard lunch.
Neely Moldovan
I was just telling my husband I wanted to make pasta salad but didn’t have a good recipe! Definitely trying this!
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Anosa Malanga
Been thinking of what to prepare over the weekend and this looks great. Thank you for the recipe.
Happy Eghaghara
Waoooh, this was very delicious. My whole family enjoyed this chicken salad
Michele @ Our Redonkulous Life
This chicken pasta salad sounds and looks really good. I am gonna have to make this for myself for lunch today. It is 6 am right now, but I am so excited!
briannemanzb
I failed at first making this because I didn’t cook the pasta undercooked but the second time was just delicious and perfect. Thanks for this recipe!
Tweenselmom
Thanks for the great recipe. We all loved it. I am going to make it for Memorial Day.
Heather
It’s been so long since I’ve had pasta salad. I love the addition of chicken. I can’t wait to make it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Christine
YUM!!! I love a good pasta salad, especially in the summer. Everyone really enjoyed this recipe and it was quite easy to make! Thanks for sharing.
Richelle Milar
That looks absolutely delicious and tasty! I would really love to try this recipe!
Beth
This chicken pasta salad was delicious! It is my new go to meal and perfect for a summer.
IceCreamnStickyFingers
This was so good. I am going to bring it to the 4th of July celebration. I love simple dishes they can be thrown together quickly.
Tasheena
My family loved this pasta salad, looking forward to making this recipe on a regular basis!
Katie C.
This sounds delicious! I love how much protein is in this as well. I think I’ll try this with my favorite grain free pasta
Beth Pierce
Sounds like a great plan! Enjoy!!
Kathy
This looks so good. I’m always up for making a pasta salad. I’ve actually been looking for a new recipe, so I’m going to save this to try later.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! Enjoy!!
Tara Pittman
This looks so delicious. I need to make it for my husband’s work lunches.
Amber Myers
Yum, I tried this last week. It was really tasty. I just love pasta salads.
Erik
Yum! Everyone really enjoyed this!
Catalina
Chicken and pasta are so great together! Absolutely delicious!
Catalina
I’ve made this pasta salad and my family loved it! Yum!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Catalina! So glad that they liked it!
Sandra
This is a great recipe! Everyone loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Sandra!!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
I need to try this Chicken Pasta Salad ASAP!
Faith Stephenson
This recipe looks so easy to make because of the step by step directions! Thanks for sharing
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
This was incredible!! My whole family really enjoyed it. I added a little celery to it for added crunch.
katerina @ diethood.com
Oh my goodness! I love how creamy and delicious this pasta salad is!! Thanks for sharing.
Juliane
Oh my! My dad would surely love this!