You can never ever, ever have too many cookout recipes on queue. It’s fun to impress your friends with a different dish every time, right?! Well, add this Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad to your list pronto because it will definitely be a hit! Bouncy buttery pasta, tender juicy chicken, crispy salty bacon, soft crumbled cheese, and some crunchy fresh veggies are tossed in a creamy and tangy dressing. It’s the perfect side to any main and super easy to make. Your people are sure to love and be excited by your Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad!
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain and low-fat
- 1 cup buttermilk, low-fat
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, low-fat or regular
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, roasted and minced, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
For the salad:
- 1 pound dry pasta, of your choice
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, grilled or cooked, and chopped
- 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups small broccoli florets
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 strips bacon, crispy and crumbled
Directions
Step 1 –In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, buttermilk, mayonnaise, parsley, garlic, vinegar, juice, salt, and pepper.
Step 2 –Taste the dressing for seasoning.
Step 3 –Place the dressing in the fridge to chill until the salad is ready.
Step 4 –Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Step 5 –Add the dry pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.
Step 6 –Drain the water from the pasta, then rinse the cooked pasta with cold water to cool.
Step 7 –Pour the cooled pasta into a large bowl.
Step 8 –Add the chicken, tomatoes, broccoli, and bell peppers to the pasta bowl.
Step 9 –Pour 3/4 cup of the chilled dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss to combine.
Step 10 –Add more of the dressing, to taste.
Step 11 –Add the feta cheese and bacon to the pasta salad and stir.
Step 12 –Taste for seasoning.
Step 13 –Chill the pasta salad for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
Step 14 –Serve.