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Best Summery Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

This Summery Chicken Pasta Salad is a light, refreshing dish packed with juicy rotisserie chicken, crisp vegetables, sweet corn, and a creamy lemon-herb dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp dried dill
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 ears fresh yellow corn or frozen, thawed
  • 16 oz mini bow tie pasta
  • 12 slices bacon cooked and chopped
  • 12 oz grape tomatoes halved
  • 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese cubed
  • 1½ cups English cucumber chopped
  • 1 cup green onions chopped
  • 3½ cups cooked shredded rotisserie chicken chilled
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta water as needed

Method
 

  1. Whisk olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Refrigerate dressing.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add corn and boil 4 minutes. Remove corn and let cool.
  3. Cook pasta in the same water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
  4. Spread pasta on a baking sheet and let cool for 10–20 minutes.
  5. Cut corn kernels from the cob and prep remaining ingredients.
  6. In a large bowl, combine pasta, corn, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, cucumber, green onions, and chicken.
  7. Add dressing and ¼ cup pasta water. Toss well, adding more pasta water if needed.
  8. Chill for 1–2 hours before serving for best flavor.

Notes

For best texture, allow pasta to cool completely before mixing. Adjust lemon juice and salt to taste. Greek yogurt may be substituted for mayonnaise for a lighter version.