Ina Garten-inspired Chicken Pasta Salad recipe a delightful combination of tender chicken vibrant vegetables, and a tangy dressing serves 6-8 and takes approximately 45 minutes to prepare and cook. This refreshing and satisfying salad is perfect for a summer picnic, a light lunch, or a casual get-together.
Try More Chicken Recipes
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Ina Garten Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe:
- Fresh and Flavorful: The combination of juicy chicken, crisp vegetables, and a zesty dressing creates a vibrant and delicious flavor profile.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is relatively simple and doesn’t require any complicated techniques.
- Versatile: You can customize this salad with your favorite vegetables, herbs, and cheeses.
- Perfect for a Crowd: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.
❓ What Is Ina Garten Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe?
Chicken Pasta Salad is a dish made with cooked chicken, pasta, vegetables, and a dressing. It’s a popular dish for picnics, potlucks, and summer gatherings.
🍗 Ingredients:
- 1 pound pasta (such as rotini, penne, or farfalle)
- 2 cups diced cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
🍝 Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, diced chicken, celery, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and tarragon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
📍 Recipe Tips
- Use good quality ingredients: Fresh herbs and high-quality mayonnaise will make a big difference in the flavor of the salad.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente so it doesn’t become mushy in the salad.
- Adjust the dressing: Add more or less dressing to your liking.
- Chill the salad: Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving will allow the flavors to meld together.
🍞 What To Serve With Chicken Pasta Salad?
Serve Chicken Pasta Salad with crusty bread or rolls for a complete meal or alongside grilled vegetables such as corn on the cob or zucchini with a refreshing fruit salad for a light and summery meal.
🎚 How To Store Leftover Chicken Pasta Salad?
Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
FAQs
What type of pasta is best for Chicken Pasta Salad?
Short pasta like rotini, penne, fusilli, or bowtie works best for Chicken Pasta Salad because it holds onto the dressing and mixes well with the other ingredients.
What dressings work well with Chicken Pasta Salad?
Chicken Pasta Salad pairs well with creamy dressings like ranch, Caesar, or mayonnaise-based dressings, as well as vinaigrettes like Italian, balsamic, or lemon-herb.
How do I keep Chicken Pasta Salad from becoming dry?
To prevent Chicken Pasta Salad from drying out, mix the dressing with the pasta while it’s slightly warm, and add a little extra dressing before serving if needed.
How do I make Chicken Pasta Salad healthier?
To make Chicken Pasta Salad healthier, use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta, lean grilled chicken, and a light dressing like Greek yogurt or olive oil-based vinaigrette.
Can I make Chicken Pasta Salad without mayonnaise?
Yes, you can substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, avocado, or a simple olive oil and lemon dressing to make a lighter version of Chicken Pasta Salad.
How do I prevent pasta from sticking together in Chicken Pasta Salad?
To prevent pasta from sticking together in Chicken Pasta Salad, toss it with a little olive oil after draining and let it cool slightly before mixing with other ingredients.
How do I make Chicken Pasta Salad more flavorful?
Marinate the chicken before cooking, add roasted vegetables, use a well-seasoned dressing, and let the salad sit for an hour before serving to enhance the flavors of Chicken Pasta Salad.
More Chicken Recipes:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 548 cal (27%)
- Carbohydrates: 37g (12%)
- Protein: 24g (48%)
- Fat: 33g (51%)
- Saturated Fat: 11g (69%)
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 76mg (25%)
- Sodium: 1355mg (59%)
- Potassium: 410mg (12%)
- Fiber: 3g (13%)
- Sugar: 5g (6%)
- Vitamin A: 2390 IU (48%)
- Vitamin C: 16mg (19%)
- Calcium: 183mg (18%)
- Iron: 1mg (6%)
Ina Garten Chicken Pasta Salad
Description
Ina Garten-inspired Chicken Pasta Salad recipe a delightful combination of tender chicken vibrant vegetables, and a tangy dressing serves 6-8 and takes approximately 45 minutes to prepare and cook. This refreshing and satisfying salad is perfect for a summer picnic, a light lunch, or a casual get-together.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, diced chicken, celery, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and tarragon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use good quality ingredients: Fresh herbs and high-quality mayonnaise will make a big difference in the flavor of the salad.
Don’t overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente so it doesn’t become mushy in the salad.
Adjust the dressing: Add more or less dressing to your liking.
Chill the salad: Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving will allow the flavors to meld together.