Chicken Pasta Salad with Lemon Herb Dressing Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Chicken Pasta Salad featuring grilled chicken breast, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon herb dressing blended with Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a light lunch or a refreshing summer meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Pasta and Vegetables
- 1 pound Pasta
- 1 Cucumber
- 8 oz Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Red Onion
- 1 Red bell pepper
- 1 Green/yellow Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Chopped Parsley
- 2 sprigs Green onion
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 large Chicken Breast
- 1.5 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
Lemon Herb Dressing
- ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- Juice Of a Lemon (about 3-4 tablespoons)
- 1.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 Garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons Honey or maple syrup
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, Finely grated
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Make Lemon Parmesan Dressing: In a jar, add all the ingredients mentioned under the salad dressing. Close the lid and shake well until everything is mixed thoroughly and the dressing looks creamy. If needed, use a milk frother to blend it smoothly.
- Grilling Chicken Breast: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness using a meat tenderizer for uniform cooking. Season them evenly with Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat a grill pan and cook the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked through and nicely charred.
- Rest and Slice Chicken: Remove the grilled chicken from the pan and cover it with aluminum foil, allowing it to rest for 10 minutes to retain juices. After resting, cut the chicken into small chunks suitable for the salad.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped cucumber, sliced bell peppers, diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and green onion sprigs. Add the grilled chicken chunks to the bowl.
- Add Dressing and Toss: Pour the lemon herb dressing over the salad ingredients to taste. Toss everything gently yet thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For best results, cook pasta just until al dente and rinse under cold water to cool before mixing into the salad.
- You can substitute grilled chicken with rotisserie chicken for a quicker option.
- Adjust the lemon juice and honey in the dressing to taste for a balance of tangy and sweet flavors.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley and green onion for enhanced freshness and aroma.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator; add dressing just before serving to prevent sogginess.
