Creamy High-Protein Pasta Salad with Chicken Recipe
This creamy high-protein pasta salad combines tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and a tangy lemon Greek yogurt dressing for a nutritious and satisfying meal. Perfect for quick lunches or light dinners, it offers nearly 50 grams of protein per serving and is ready in just 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
Salad Ingredients
- 12 oz. Brami fusilli pasta (or other protein pasta)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup English cucumbers, chopped
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast, diced
- 4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (parsley, basil, chives, dill), chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Make the creamy dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and garlic powder until smooth and well combined.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooked and cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, diced cooked chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, and chopped fresh herbs. Pour the creamy dressing over the salad.
- Mix gently and season: Gently stir all the ingredients together to combine. Season the salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Chill before serving: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- If the dressing is too thick, thin it out with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
- Make sure to cook the pasta to al dente to prevent a soggy salad.
- This salad can be prepared up to 2 days in advance; reserve some dressing separately for serving if desired.
- Freezing this pasta salad is not recommended as the texture will deteriorate.
Keywords: high protein pasta salad, chicken pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, Greek yogurt dressing, gluten free pasta salad, quick pasta salad
