Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

This Italian Chicken Pasta Salad with grilled chicken and zesty Italian dressing has great flavor and is easy to make on a hot summer day!

I have been making this simple pasta salad for my family for years. Make it ahead and stick it in the fridge when you have a busy day. It will be chilled and waiting for you when you come home famished!

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Constance Smith | CosmopolitanCornbread.com

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 lb rotini or ruffled pasta
1 lb thin cut, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¼ c + ⅔ c Italian salad dressing, divided
2 carrots, trimmed & shredded
½ c shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

To begin, start a pot of water to cook a pound of rotini or ruffled pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, brush the chicken on both sides with ¼ cup of your favorite Italian salad dressing. Pop them onto a hot grill, and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked through.
When the chicken is done cooking, set it on your cutting board to cool while the pasta cooks.
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
When the pasta is done cooking, drain the pasta in a colander, then run cold water over the pasta to cool it quickly. I stir it while I do this, to get the pasta cooled all the way through. Drain it well and place the pasta in a mixing bowl. Add the shredded carrots to the pasta. Add in the chicken, along with the remaining ⅔ c Italian salad dressing and the shredded Parmesan cheese. Give it all a stir.
Serve it now, or refrigerate to chill it all the way through and serve later.
Enjoy!

I shared this recipe today over at Hip Homeschool Moms.