This Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing and Chicken is incredibly delicious and easy to make. This is the salad you want to make for a quick meal prep lunch. Pasta salad is one of my favorites; I can eat it year-round. I like that it is so easy to prepare and can be customized.
Why You Will Love This Salad
Flavorful. The cooked chicken thighs, the pasta, and the creamy mayo yogurt dressing combine to make this salad so tasty. Everyone will love it, including kids.
Customizable. You can use another kind of pasta, like chickpea pasta and cherry tomatoes instead of bell peppers. You can also make this salad vegan by using a vegan protein source.
Ingredients Needed For Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing and Chicken
- Chicken thighs are an excellent protein source. You can replace chicken thighs with chicken breast.
- Pasta is a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. You can substitute chickpea pasta for pasta.
- Cucumber is high in fiber, and vitamin K. Cucumber can be substituted with zucchini.
- Bell peppers are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and a good source of fiber. You can substitute cherry tomatoes for bell peppers.
- Plain yogurt is an excellent protein source with probiotics and essential nutrients like vitamin B12 and zinc.
- Mayonnaise. I used avocado oil mayo.
- Avocado oil is a good source of healthy fats. Substitute avocado oil for olive oil.
- Onion
- Lemon juice is a good source of vitamin C. Lemon juice can be substituted with white vinegar.
- Honey adds a little sweetness to the salad dressing.
- Parsley
- Seasonings: I used smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt
How To Make Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing and Chicken
Please cook the pasta by following the instructions on the box.
Cut chicken thighs into cube sizes and transfer to a bowl. Add plain yogurt, avocado oil, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, and combine with your hands or spoon.
Heat avocado oil in a non-stick pan. Add the chicken thighs to the pan, and cook for 12-15 minutes or until fully cooked and brown.
Wash and cut the bell peppers and cucumber. Finely chop the onion.
In four 32 oz mason jars, add plain yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, avocado oil, honey, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt and combine at the bottom of the jars.
Add cucumber, bell pepper, cooked pasta, onion, cooked chicken thighs, and parsley to the jars and store them in the refrigerator for up to four days.
When ready to serve, add to a bowl, combine, and enjoy!
