Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken, spiral pasta, and crisp vegetables tossed in zesty honey-mustard dressing. Light, satisfying, and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz spiral pasta (fusilli or rotini)

→ Chicken

02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 10 oz)
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
08 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
10 - 1/4 cup celery, thinly sliced
11 - 2 cups mixed salad greens (optional)

→ Honey Mustard Dressing

12 - 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
13 - 2 tablespoons honey
14 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
15 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
16 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
17 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; set aside.
02 - Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Allow to rest 5 minutes, then dice or slice into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, celery, and salad greens if using.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
05 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.
06 - Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to chill and allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The honey mustard dressing hits that perfect sweet and tangy balance that makes everyone go back for seconds
  • It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after the flavors hang out for a while
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in five minutes flat
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing the pasta under cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the fridge for the flavors to really come together
  • Overdressed pasta salad becomes sad and soggy, start with three quarters of the dressing and add more if needed
03 -
  • Swap Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise for a lighter version that still feels creamy
  • Grill the chicken instead of pan frying it for extra smoky depth
  • Add some crumbled bacon or feta cheese if you want to make it more indulgent
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