BLT Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

A fresh and hearty combination of smoky bacon, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, grilled chicken, and pasta shells tossed in creamy mayo 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 - 1½ 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

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running 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 smooth and well combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
04 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to blend before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its that rare dish that actually improves after a few hours in the fridge, making it perfect for stress free entertaining
  • The combination of smoky bacon, fresh tomatoes, and creamy dressing hits every single craving at once
02 -
  • Rinse your pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will keep cooking and become mushy
  • Add the lettuce right before serving if youre making this ahead, otherwise it wilts
03 -
  • Cook your bacon in the oven on a foil lined sheet pan for perfectly crispy results without the mess
  • Reserve a handful of crumbled bacon to sprinkle on top just before serving for that restaurant finish
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