BLT Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Fresh pasta salad with grilled chicken, crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, and romaine in a tangy cream dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Proteins

01 - 8 oz medium pasta shells
02 - 2 cups cooked grilled chicken breast, diced
03 - 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 ½ cups romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced

→ Dressing

07 - ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
08 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
09 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - ½ tsp garlic powder
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy mixture.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld together for enhanced taste.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoky bacon and creamy dressing create that perfect smothered potato salad vibe but with tender pasta and fresh crunch
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes and actually tastes better after chilling, making it ideal for advance prep
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or the residual heat will wilt the lettuce and make the dressing separate
  • The salad needs at least 20 minutes of chilling time for the flavors to really come together
03 -
  • Cook your bacon in the oven at 400°F for 15 minutes for perfectly crisp results without the splatter mess
  • Cut your cherry tomatoes in half through the equator rather than pole to pole so they release their juices more easily
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