This Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe with Chicken is Sure to Be a Hit

By: Rita

Looking for an easy salad recipe? This Greek Pasta Salad is fresh with Mediterranean flavor and is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.  It’s the perfect mix of crisp veggies, tangy feta, tender pasta, and topped with chicken.

It can be prepped ahead for weekday lunches, a picnic dish, or an easy weeknight dinner idea. Wow your family or take it to your next family gathering!

This flavor-filled Greek Pasta Salad with chicken can be made as a side dish or served as a meal in itself.

What You Need To Make Greek Pasta Salad with Chicken

• 1 pound bow tie pasta (or 4 cups dried bow tie pasta)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 english cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, whole or cut
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed 
• 1/3- 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing (You may choose to use more, depending on your taste.)
• 1-2 teaspoons black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch salt, or to taste
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 

The secret to this delicious simple salad recipe is the combination of fresh vegetables, pasta, and dressing.

How To Make this Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Step 1: Cook pasta until it is “al dente” – about 7-9 minutes. 

Once it reaches the desired doneness, drain the pasta with a kitchen strainer. Immediately run cold water over it to stop it from cooking further.

Place it in the refrigerator to cool for at least 10-15 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Step 2: Prepare the veggies

While the pasta is cooling, slice, peel, and prepare the vegetables for the salad as directed in the ingredient list.

This simple salad recipe is always a hit at potlucks, picnics, or family gatherings.

Step 3: Stir the salad ingredients together in a large bowl.

To the chilled pasta, add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, chicken, and feta cheese. Toss well with a large spoon.

Use your favorite balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing as the perfect finishing touch to this Greek Pasta Salad.

Step 4: Drizzle over salad dressing

Although you could certainly mix together a homemade dressing for this salad, using store bought dressing saves time and tastes delicious!

Your favorite balsamic vinaigrette dressing or greek salad dressing are wonderful options. 

Add salt and pepper to taste.

You can customize this Greek Pasta Salad recipe for your family’s tastes by adding (or removing) veggies that are preferred.

Other ideas for this Greek Pasta Salad Recipe:

• Other veggies such as red onion and bell peppers could be added for more Greek flavor.
• If you want to serve this as a less filling side dish, omit the chicken.
• Garnish with sprigs of oregano for a pretty presentation.
• For a lighter version, whole wheat pasta can be substituted.
• This salad can keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so it makes the perfect make ahead meal solution.
• Any type of short pasta (macaroni, rotini, or penne) can be substituted for the bow tie pasta if needed.
• Store bought rotisserie chicken can be used for a time saving ingredient.

Looking for an easy salad recipe? This Greek Pasta Salad is fresh with Mediteranian flavor and is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.  It's the perfect mix of crisp veggies, tangy feta, tender pasta, and topped with chicken.

It can be prepped ahead for weekday lunches, a picnic dish, or an easy weeknight dinner idea. Wow your family or take it to your next family gathering!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound bow tie pasta (or 4 cups dried bow tie pasta)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 english cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup pitted calmata olives, whole or cut
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed 
• 1/3- 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing (You may choose to use more, depending on your taste.)
• 1-2 teaspoons black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch salt, or to taste
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

1. Cook pasta until "al dente" - 7-9 minutes.
2. Drain pasta and run cold water over it to stop it from cooking further.
3. Place in the refrigerator to cool for 10-15 minutes.
4. Slice, peel, and prepare the vegetables as listed above.
5. Stir the salad ingredients together.
6. Drizzle dressing over the ingredients and toss to coat.

 

Let’s have some fun in the kitchen:

Source: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/4963/greek-pasta-chicken-salad/

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