Description
This Chicken Club Pasta Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and satisfying dish combining tender chicken, crispy smoked turkey bacon, and creamy shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal). Perfect for summer, it is quick to prepare, protein-packed, and flavorful, making it ideal for picnics, light dinners, or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins
- 2 cups rotini or penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 6 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped
Cheese and Vegetables
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 medium avocado, diced
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini or penne pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Prepare the Chicken and Smoked Turkey Bacon: While the pasta cooks, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cook the smoked turkey bacon in a pan until crispy, then chop into small pieces for easy mixing.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. This tangy dressing will unite all the ingredients beautifully.
- Combine the Salad: In a large bowl, mix the cooled pasta, shredded chicken, crispy smoked turkey bacon, shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal), halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and chopped romaine lettuce. Pour the dressing over and gently toss to coat everything evenly.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the Chicken Club Pasta Salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and keep the dish refreshingly cool.
Notes
- Use leftover cooked chicken to save time.
- Do not overcook the pasta; al dente texture holds better in the salad.
- Rinse pasta with cold water to prevent sticking and cool it quickly.
- Chop ingredients uniformly for a balanced bite.
- Add dressing gradually and toss lightly to keep the salad crisp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Chicken club pasta salad, summer salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, creamy pasta salad, quick chicken salad