BLT Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Smoky bacon, grilled chicken, and fresh vegetables with pasta shells in a light creamy dressing.

# What You 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

→ Dressing

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the pasta shells according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to fully develop before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its that magical collision of smoky bacon, sweet tomatoes, and cool crisp lettuce that makes every bite exciting
  • The creamy dressing clings to every pasta shell while still feeling light and fresh
  • This salad actually gets better after a short chill, making it perfect for make ahead lunches
02 -
  • Rinse your pasta thoroughly or itll keep cooking and turn mushy
  • Add the lettuce right before serving if youre making this ahead of time
  • The dressing absorbs into pasta as it sits, so you might need to brighten it with another squeeze of lemon
03 -
  • Cook your bacon extra crisp since itll soften slightly in the dressing
  • Chill your mixing bowl for ten minutes before tossing everything together
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