Summery Chicken Pasta Salad

Name: Summery Chicken Pasta Salad
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2/3 cup olive oil; 1/3 cup mayonnaise; 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley; 1 Tbsp dried dill; 2 tsp minced garlic ((2 cloves)); Salt (and black pepper, to taste); 2 ears fresh yellow corn; 16 oz mini bow tie pasta; 12 slices (12 oz) bacon, (cooked, drained and chopped*); 12 oz. grape tomatoes, (halved); 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, ( cut into 1/4-inch cubes); 1 1/2 cups chopped English cucumber ((about 3/4 of one medium)); 1 cup chopped green onions ((about 5)); 3 1/2 cups cooked shredded rotisserie chicken, (chilled); 1/4 cup pasta water, (or more as needed)

Published May 20, 2023

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Summery Chicken Pasta Salad – Made with fun mini bowtie pasta, a lemony herb flecked dressing, sharp cheddar, crisp veggies, flavor rich bacon, and tender rotisserie chicken. This is an absolute crowd pleaser!

Chicken Pasta Salad with bacon, cheddar and corn.

Club Chicken Pasta Salad

This is a family favorite pasta salad! It’s similar to the taste of a club chicken sandwich meets a ranch salad. In other words it’s completely irresistible!

It has all the best flavors including the unmistakable taste of dill, sweet corn, vibrant tomatoes, crave-able cheese, meaty bacon, bone-in cooked chicken, and a rich tangy dressing. And if you want one more summery mix-in you can also include in a buttery avocado.

It makes an extra large batch which is perfectly fitting for a summer cook out of about 12 people, but the recipe can easily be halved as well for a smaller family lunch or dinner (amounts are included at the bottom of the recipe).

Though you’ll find it also keeps well in the fridge so you may opt to just make the full batch and have the extra for lunch that’s ready to go the following few days.

This chicken pasta salad is chilled and refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day. Plus it’s such a tasty upgrade from traditional pasta salad. So much delicious goodness in every serving!

Chicken Pasta Salad Recipes Ingredients

Olive oil
Mayonnaise
Fresh lemon
Fresh parsley
Dried dill
Fresh garlic
Salt and pepper
Fresh yellow corn
Bow tie pasta
Bacon
Green onions
Tomatoes
Cheddar cheese
English cucumber
Rotisserie chicken

How to Make Chicken Pasta Salad

Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl whisk together olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, dill, garlic and season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Boil water in pot: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt water to taste (I use about 2 Tbsp).
Cook corn, cool: Add corn and boil (while turning as needed so all sides cook), 4 minutes. Remove corn and let cool while keeping water boiling.
Cook pasta, cool: Add pasta to boiling water and cook to al dente according to times listed on pasta package. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining pasta.
Transfer drained pasta to a greased baking sheet and let cool 10 to 20 minutes.
Cut corn from corn cobs.
Add pasta salad ingredients to bowl: In a extra large bowl add cooled pasta, corn, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, cucumber, and chicken.
Toss with dressing: Pour dressing over and 1/4 cup pasta water then toss to evenly coat. Thin with more pasta water as needed (as it rests it will thicken) and season with more salt as needed.
Rest: If time allows let flavors meld in fridge for 1 hour, otherwise it can be served right away.

Recipe Variations

Grilled or canned chicken: In place of rotisserie chicken you could use well drained canned chicken, grilled chicken, or other leftover cooked chicken.
Pastas: Other types of pasta that will work here are standard bow tie pasta (farfelle), mini penne, elbow macaroni, fusili, or small shell pasta.
Cheeses: In place of cheddar try swiss, feta, colby cheese or blue cheese.
Fresh dill: If you would like to use fresh dill just start with 1 Tbsp and add more to taste from there.
Frozen corn: If you don’t have access to fresh corn frozen corn will work as well, just cook according to package directions and run under cold water in a colander to cool.
Additions: 1 diced avocado is a delicious addition to this salad (should be fairly firm but ripe). For spicy heat you can also add cayenne pepper to taste.

How to Store

Pasta salad should not be kept at room temperature longer than 2 hours.
Don’t keep in warmer environments longer than 1 hour.
Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.

How Long Does it Keep?

This bacon cheddar chicken pasta salad will keep for 3 days in the fridge.

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Chicken Pasta Salad with bacon, cheddar and corn.

5 from 2 votes

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