Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad

This healthy chicken pasta salad is packed with flavor, protein, and delicious veggies! If you’re searching for a nutritious salad for lunch or the perfect recipe to bring to your next potluck, this recipe could be a fantastic time-saving solution.

There’s no mayo to be found, so it’s great for picnics and parties. Loaded with fresh cherry tomatoes, avocados, and basil you’re sure to create a summertime hit! Also, it’s super quick to whip up making it fantastic for busy nights and delivers a big enough batch for yummy leftovers.

Want to add a bit of variety? Feel free to include chopped cucumbers, crispy turkey bacon, corn, olives, black beans, etc.

What pasta should I use?

We used classic rotini pasta because rotini holds dressings pretty well, but any sturdy pasta will work. Rotini, bow tie, penne, and macaroni are great alternatives for this chicken pasta salad recipe.

Helpful Tips:

To keep the avocado from turning brown, coat the avocado in either lemon juice or lime juice. It will act as an antioxidant.

Since this is a cold pasta salad it’s perfect for summer picnics or potlucks. You can make it up to one day in advance, omitting the avocado and tomato until you are ready to serve the chicken pasta salad. Waiting until the day of, will keep the ingredients as fresh as possible.

How to store your pasta salad:

This recipe keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days if stored in an air-tight container. I wouldn’t recommend longer as the avocado will eventually turn brown. You’ll want to toss the leftovers to redistribute the dress before serving.