BLT Chicken Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Fresh smoky bacon, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and grilled chicken with tender pasta shells in a light creamy dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta & Proteins

01 - 8 oz medium pasta shells
02 - 2 cups cooked grilled chicken breast, diced
03 - 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 ½ cups romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced (optional)

→ Dressing

07 - ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
08 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
09 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - ½ tsp garlic powder
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool completely.
02 - Whisk together light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and fully combined.
03 - Place cooled pasta, diced grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and red onion in a large mixing bowl. Toss ingredients gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour prepared dressing over salad mixture. Fold gently until all ingredients are coated evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its that perfect potluck dish that somehow manages to taste even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours
  • The smoky bacon and fresh tomatoes create this incredible sweet and savory dance that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
02 -
  • I once made the mistake of adding the lettuce too far ahead and ended up with a soggy sad situation
  • The salad will seem a bit dry right after tossing but the pasta absorbs dressing as it sits
03 -
  • Cook your bacon in the oven at 400F for 15 minutes for the most perfectly even crispy results without the mess
  • Pat your grilled chicken dry with paper towels before dicing so the dressing actually clings to the meat
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