Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for any day. Combining tender grilled chicken, al dente pasta, fresh vegetables, tangy olives, and creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing infused with garlic and oregano. This salad is easy to prepare, nutritious, and ideal for lunch, dinner, or a light meal on warm days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (for cooking chicken and pasta, if not pre-cooked)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (grilled or roasted)
- 3 cups cooked pasta (fusilli or penne, cooked al dente)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- ½ cup kalamata olives (pitted and sliced)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ¼ cup olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional: add a pinch of thyme or basil)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and dried oregano until well combined to create a fresh, tangy dressing.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, grilled or roasted chicken breast, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced kalamata olives, thinly sliced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix gently to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Add Feta Cheese: Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the tossed salad and gently mix it in, taking care not to break up the cheese too much to maintain its texture.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully before serving.
Notes
- This salad is best served chilled but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Use freshly cooked and cooled pasta to prevent the salad from becoming mushy.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute grilled chicken with roasted chickpeas or extra vegetables.
- Try adding a pinch of thyme or basil to the dressing for extra herbal aroma.
- If you prefer a tangier salad, increase the amount of lemon juice slightly.
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, grilled chicken salad, feta cheese salad, fresh pasta salad, lemon olive oil dressing
Find it online: https://leofoster.com/mediterranean-chicken-pasta-salad-recipe/
