The best Chicken Pasta Salad! Packed with veggies, tender pasta, and a creamy dressing. Hearty enough for a main, perfect as a side!

This is a cold chicken pasta salad with mayo. For a mayo-free option, try Chicken Spinach Pasta Salad!

Chicken Pasta Salad recipe in a bowl ready to be served.

Table of Contents

Chicken Pasta Salad

I love a creamy pasta salad, and this Chicken Pasta Salad is joining my favorites like Macaroni Salad and Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad! It’s packed with chicken, bacon, corn, pasta, and a creamy dressing.

It takes some time to prep, but shortcuts like microwave bacon and rotisserie chicken help. Load up on veggies or simplify—it’s easy to customize!

All the ingredients in this recipe prepped out for easy assembly.

Chicken Pasta Salad Ingredients

  • Pasta: Rotini grabs onto dressing and veggies, but penne, fusilli, or bow-tie also work.
  • Chicken: Use cooked chicken—grilled, baked, or blackened chicken. Leave it out for a meat-free salad.
  • Bacon: I usually bake bacon, but microwave bacon is the quickest!
  • Tomatoes: Use grape or diced tomatoes instead of cherry.
  • Corn: Use frozen (thawed or cooked), fresh, or canned.
  • Bell Pepper: Red, yellow, or orange peppers work. Cucumbers give it a fresh twist.
  • Celery: Chop small or leave out if you don’t like it.
  • Carrots: Grate carrots fast with a box grater for a touch of sweetness.

Chicken Pasta Salad Dressing:

  • Mayo and Sour Cream: The dressing is best with a high-quality, full-fat mayo. For a lighter dressing, use fat-free sour cream.
  • Flavor Enhancers: Apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, and garlic powder add depth and flavor to this dressing.
The dressing being whisked together in a bowl for this dish.

How To Make Chicken Pasta Salad

  1. Cook Pasta: Cook pasta following package directions, then rinse in cold water and set aside.
  2. Prepare Protein: Shred or chop cooked chicken and dice cooked bacon.
  3. Prep Veggies: Halve tomatoes, dice bell pepper, celery, and thaw corn. Peel and grate carrots.
  4. Make Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients.
  5. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, bacon, veggies, and dressing.
  6. Mix and Season: Mix gently until everything is evenly coated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  7. Serve: Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature.

How To Cook Chicken For Pasta Salad

There are several options for cooking chicken for this pasta salad. My go-to option is to buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or use pre-shredded rotisserie chicken meat.

Cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), let it cool before adding it to the salad, and shred or chop based on your preference.

Here are some additional methods for cooking chicken:

  • Boil/Poach Chicken. All the details here. 
  • Bake Chicken. Try these Baked Chicken Bites — they’re done in just 12 minutes!
  • Grill Chicken. All the details for how to grill chicken in this Chicken Taco Marinade recipe.
All the toppings being added over a bed of pasta with the dressing poured over everything for this easy chicken pasta salad recipe.

What To Serve With Chicken Pasta Salad

Chicken pasta salad goes with so many dishes! It’s perfect for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, or dinner at home.

Here’s what you can serve alongside it:

Recipe Tips

  • Salt the pasta water: Make flavor better by salting the water the pasta is cooking in. Taste the finished salad and add more salt if needed.
  • Cook pasta to package directions: Avoid a soggy pasta salad by cooking the pasta just until al dente. Follow the package directions for exact timing.
  • Rinse pasta in cold water after cooking: This keeps the pasta from sticking together as it cools and stops the cooking process.
Chicken Pasta Salad recipe tossed together with the dressing.

FAQs

Can I make chicken pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time. Keep in mind that the pasta may absorb some of the dressing as it sits so it’s a good idea to hold back some dressing and add it just before serving. 

How can I keep my pasta salad from getting dry?

To keep your pasta salad from drying out, make sure to cook the pasta al dente. You can also prepare extra dressing to add later on.

Is there a dairy-free option for the dressing?

Yes, try an olive oil-based dressing instead. Try this Italian Dressing or Greek Salad Dressing in place of the dressing in the recipe card below.

Can I substitute the chicken?

Yes; replace the chicken with other proteins like canned tuna or diced up ham. Or try chickpeas for a vegetarian option.

Storage

How To Store Leftovers

  1. Don’t leave the salad out for more than two hours. If serving outdoors, place the bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it chilled.
  2. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3-5 days.
  3. Stir before serving, adding more dressing if needed.

Other Chicken Pasta Salad Recipes:

Chicken Pasta Salad in a bowl ready to be served.
Pin Print
5 from 1 vote

Simple Chicken Pasta Salad

By Chelsea Lords
This Chicken Pasta Salad is the best I’ve ever tried! It’s packed with veggies, has an incredible creamy dressing, and perfectly tender pasta. It’s filling enough to be a main dish but also works well as a side.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 10 (as a side)

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces rotini pasta
  • 3 cups cooked chicken rotisserie, shredded or finely chopped, see note 1
  • 1/2 cup (6 slices) diced cooked bacon microwave bacon works too!
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1-1/4 cups frozen corn thawed, see note 2
  • 1 red pepper diced
  • 3/4 cup diced celery 2 to 3 stalks
  • 1 cup peeled and grated carrots grate on box grater, 2 to 3 carrots
Dressing
  • 1 cup full-fat mayo
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  •  Salt and pepper

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of 12 cups water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add 1 tbsp salt and pasta. Boil to package directions for “al dente.” Drain, rinse under cold water (only for 20 seconds). Shake off excess water and set aside to fully cool.
  • Whisk together dressing ingredients in a bowl. Season; I add 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Dice or shred chicken. Cook bacon, let cool, and finely dice. Halve tomatoes, thaw corn or sauté, dice red pepper, dice celery, peel and shred carrots on large holes of a grater. Add everything to a very large bowl with cooled pasta.
  • Add dressing to salad and gently mix to combine. Taste and adjust. To make ahead, see storage below.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Baking a large batch of bacon is my preferred method, but microwave bacon also works great. Feel free to omit bacon if you prefer or want to simplify preparation.
Note 2: Fresh corn kernels or canned corn also work. If using frozen corn, ensure it is thawed or sautéed before adding to the salad.
Storage: The pasta continues to absorb the dressing over time, so I recommend holding back some dressing to add just before serving. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 53.3g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9.5g | Cholesterol: 50.6mg | Sodium: 98.3mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 6.3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Meet Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to Chelsea’s Messy Apron! I’m Chelsea, the recipe developer, food photographer, and writer behind the site. I’m passionate about creating simple, reliable, and delicious recipes that anyone can make.

Thanks for stopping by—I hope you find something delicious to make!

Read more

More Recipes You'll Love

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




1 Comment

  1. Olivia Mendenhall says:

    5 stars
    I’m Chelsea’s sister and last 4th of July she made this chicken pasta salad and it was life changing! I’ve been making it ever since!

    Reply