BLT Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Fresh pasta salad with grilled chicken, crispy bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce 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 chopped romaine lettuce
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - ½ cup finely diced red onion

→ 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 Steps:

01 - Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
05 - Serve immediately for best texture, or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Add fresh lettuce just before serving if storing longer.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything you love about a BLT sandwich happens to transform beautifully into pasta form
  • Its that rare salad that actually fills you up without leaving you hunting for snacks an hour later
02 -
  • Hot pasta will make your lettuce wilt instantly so cool it completely first
  • Add the lettuce right before serving if you are making this ahead
03 -
  • Crisp your bacon in the oven on a foil lined sheet for easiest cleanup
  • Cut the tomatoes and chicken into similar sizes for the best eating experience
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