Dried Cherry Nut Chicken Pasta Salad
Elevate your pasta salad game with this delightful Dried Cherry Nut Chicken Pasta Salad, a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and crunchy goodness. Featuring tender bow-tie pasta, juicy cooked chicken, and a medley of dried cherries, toasted pecans or walnuts, and crisp celery, every bite bursts with texture and flavor. A creamy, tangy dressing made with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar ties it all together beautifully, while the addition of finely diced red onion adds a subtle zing. This easy-to-make recipe takes just 30 minutes of prep and chilling, making it ideal for lunch, potlucks, or a light dinner. Customize it with a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving, and enjoy a chilled and refreshing dish that’s sure to impress. Perfect for meal prep or entertaining, this chicken pasta salad is hearty, flavorful, and undeniably satisfying.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bow-tie pasta (farfalle)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 0.75 cup mayonnaise
- 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the bow-tie pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded or cubed chicken, dried cherries, toasted nuts, diced celery, and finely diced red onion.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. This will be the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the chicken and pasta mixture. Gently toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Before serving, give the salad a final stir and garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
796 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 40.2 g | 52% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.8 g | 29% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 79 mg | 26% | |
| Sodium | 511 mg | 22% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 72.8 g | 26% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.8 g | 21% | |
| Total Sugars | 25.9 g | ||
| Protein | 36.4 g | 73% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 84 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 2.5 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 640 mg | 14% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
