Lemon Herb Chicken Pasta Salad: Bright & Fresh (Print Version)

This lemon herb chicken pasta salad is a bright, fresh, and easy meal. Perfect for gatherings or a light lunch, it's packed with flavor and simple to make.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Dietary: Contains Dairy, Gluten

# Ingredients:

→ Main Salad Components

01 - 8 oz (225g) short pasta (farfalle, penne, or rotini)
02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
03 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 large cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 red onion, finely diced
06 - 4 oz (113g) feta cheese, crumbled

→ Zesty Lemon Herb Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 1-2 lemons)
08 - 1 tbsp lemon zest
09 - 1/2 cup good quality olive oil
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped
12 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
14 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)

→ Optional Flavor Boosters

15 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, halved
16 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds
17 - Pinch of red pepper flakes

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your pasta cooking! Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen short pasta – I usually go for farfalle, because it’s pretty and holds the dressing so well. Cook it according to package directions until it’s al dente. This is crucial; you don't want mushy pasta in your chicken pasta salad! Once done, drain it well and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. This is where I always forget to salt the water, oops, but don't you make my mistake!
02 - While the pasta is cooling, get to chopping! Halve those cherry tomatoes, dice your cucumber, and finely mince the red onion. Shred or dice your cooked chicken breast if you haven't already. I like to get all my veggies ready and lined up; it makes me feel like a super organized chef, even when my counter is a total disaster. This step makes assembling your chicken pasta salad a breeze later on, honestly.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and good quality olive oil. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Give it a taste – does it sing to you? Add more salt or lemon if it needs a little boost. This dressing is the heart of our chicken pasta salad, so make it perfect for your palate!
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, and minced red onion. Add the crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh dill, and chopped fresh parsley. Pour that glorious lemon herb dressing all over the ingredients. This is where the magic starts to happen; you can almost smell the freshness.
05 - Using a large spoon or your hands (my preferred, messier method!), gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is well coated with the dressing. You want every piece of pasta and chicken to get a good hug from that zesty, herbaceous goodness. I usually take a small taste here to adjust seasonings one last time, adding a little more salt or pepper if it feels right.
06 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate the chicken pasta salad for at least 30 minutes, or even better, for a few hours. This chilling time allows all those beautiful flavors to meld together, making it even more delicious. When you're ready to serve, give it another quick toss. The final result should be vibrant, fresh, and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors – a truly satisfying dish!

# Notes:

01 - Don't skip the lemon zest in the dressing-it really wakes everything up and adds depth!
02 - This chicken pasta salad tastes even better the next day, so make a big batch for lunch.
03 - Tried it with rotisserie chicken once when I was lazy; worked like a charm and saved so much time!
04 - A sprinkle of red pepper flakes adds a nice little kick if you're feeling bold.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Large pot
02 - colander
03 - cutting board
04 - sharp knife
05 - mixing bowls
06 - whisk

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 25g

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