This Chicken Pasta Salad is the perfect easy meal for busy days — loaded with tender chicken, crisp veggies, pasta, and a creamy flavorful dressing. It’s fresh, satisfying, and perfect for lunches, picnics, BBQs, or quick family dinners!
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced or shredded
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion finely sliced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
- 1/2 cup celery chopped
For the Dressing
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, cheddar cheese, olives, and celery.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
- Garnish with extra parsley or cracked pepper if desired, then serve chilled.