Quick and Easy Garden Chicken Pasta Salad
Bright, fresh, and bursting with flavor, this Quick and Easy Garden Chicken Pasta Salad is the perfect go-to recipe for busy weeknights, potlucks, or picnic spreads. Featuring tender rotini pasta, juicy shredded chicken, and a medley of crisp garden vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red bell peppers, this recipe offers a wholesome balance of textures and colors. Tossed in a zesty homemade lemon and olive oil dressing, with creamy crumbled feta and briny black olives for added richness, this salad is a breeze to prepare in just 25 minutes. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a vibrant, satisfying dish that’s sure to delight. Perfect for meal prep or a light lunch, this recipe is a deliciously healthy take on classic pasta salad.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or cubed)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup cucumber (diced)
- 1 cup red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 0.5 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- 0.5 cup black olives (sliced)
- 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped, optional)
Instructions
Bring a medium-sized pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to cool it down. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shredded or cubed chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, feta cheese, and black olives.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If desired, garnish the salad with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2963 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 129.9 g | 167% | |
| Saturated Fat | 35.2 g | 176% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 512 mg | 171% | |
| Sodium | 3809 mg | 166% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 238.8 g | 87% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21.2 g | 76% | |
| Total Sugars | 29.4 g | ||
| Protein | 201.7 g | 403% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 936 mg | 72% | |
| Iron | 20.0 mg | 111% | |
| Potassium | 3172 mg | 67% | |
*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.
