This Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad is the ideal dish for a scorching summer day. It’s rich in protein and incredibly simple to assemble, making it an excellent choice for those days when you’d rather not spend too much time cooking in a hot kitchen. Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl, add the dressing, and you’re ready to enjoy a delicious meal!
Easy pasta salads are always a delight, especially when they require minimal cooking. This avocado chicken pasta salad is perfect for lunch, picnics, potlucks, and various occasions. The best part? It comes together in just 20 minutes!
If you’re looking for more easy and delicious salads, I recommend trying my Brussels Sprouts Salad or my Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. They make fantastic side dishes or light lunches.
Why This Pasta Salad Is So Good
This salad is incredibly easy to prepare. Just chop everything up and toss it together in a bowl. It’s a quick and straightforward dish that’s suitable for any meal.
Furthermore, it’s a nutritious meal. You’ll benefit from the healthy fats in avocado, protein from the chicken, and a serving of vegetables all in one dish.
Plus, it’s ideal for summer. If you have pre-cooked chicken or have meal-prepped it in advance, this recipe becomes nearly a no-cook option. You’ll only need to prepare the pasta, and you’re good to go!
what you’ll require
Here are the main ingredients for this chicken avocado pasta salad:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken is used in this recipe.
- Vegetables: Cherry tomatoes and red onions are included, but you can add more veggies if you like.
- Pasta: Rotini pasta is the choice here, but you can use your favorite pasta.
- Italian parsley: Fresh parsley adds a herby flavor to the salad.
- Dried cranberries: These bring a touch of sweetness to the dish.
- Avocado: Make sure your avocados are ripe for a creamy texture and great flavor.
- Red chili pepper: Just a small amount is used to add some heat.
- Dressing: The dressing includes lemon juice, olive oil, salt, Dijon mustard, honey, pepper, dried oregano, and minced garlic.
How To Make Avocado Chicken Pasta Salad
Here’s a brief overview of the cooking process for this chicken avocado pasta salad:
- Cook the pasta: Follow the package instructions to cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Drain it in a strainer and rinse it with cold water to cool it down quickly.
- Prepare the ingredients: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing in a cup. Also, dice and slice the vegetables you’ll need.
- Combine everything: Place all the ingredients in a bowl, including the cooked pasta, diced chicken, cherry tomatoes, red onions, Italian parsley, dried cranberries, sliced avocado, and red chili pepper. Drizzle the prepared dressing over everything. Carefully toss all the ingredients together to ensure they are evenly coated with the dressing. Be gentle to avoid smashing the avocados.
- Serve: Once everything is well combined and coated with the dressing, your chicken avocado pasta salad is ready to be served. Enjoy it immediately!
Tips and Notes
Here are some time-saving tips and ingredient variations for this chicken avocado pasta salad:
- Using Pre-Cooked Chicken: If you’re short on time, consider using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Simply shred the chicken meat you need, and you can even save the bones for making chicken stock later.
- Prep in Advance: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the salad. Additionally, you can prepare the dressing in advance and store it in an airtight container.
- Mustard Substitution: If you don’t have Dijon mustard, you can use regular yellow mustard or honey mustard as alternatives.
- Cheese Variations: While Parmesan cheese is a great addition, you can also try shaved or shredded Parmesan, goat cheese, or blue cheese for a different flavor profile.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: For the best flavor, it’s recommended to use freshly squeezed lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice, as bottled juice can sometimes have a bitter aftertaste.