Description

This Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad is bursting with fresh flavors! Made with chicken, pasta, feta cheese, olives, and a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing, it’s the perfect light yet satisfying dish for any occasion

Ingredients

For the Salad:

2 cups cooked and diced chicken breast

8 ounces penne or rotini pasta

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1 medium cucumber, diced

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1 cup feta cheese crumbles

1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives

For the Dressing:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and black pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)

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Instructions

Cook the Chicken:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook seasoned chicken until golden brown and fully cooked. Let it rest before dicing into bite-sized pieces.
Cook the Pasta:
- Boil pasta according to package instructions. Drain but don’t rinse to preserve the pasta starch.
Prepare the Vegetables:
- While pasta and chicken cool, chop cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and chop red onion.
Combine Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine pasta, chicken, vegetables, feta cheese, and olives.
Toss the Salad:
- Drizzle the dressing (olive oil and lemon juice) over the salad. Toss everything together until evenly coated.
Taste and Adjust:
- Season with additional salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste.
Serve:
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving, but it can also be served immediately.

Notes

Add Roasted Vegetables: Add roasted peppers, zucchini, or eggplant for a more hearty and colorful salad.
Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free version of this recipe.
Vegan Version: Swap the chicken for a plant-based protein and use vegan feta or nutritional yeast.
Add Nuts: Add some toasted pine nuts or almonds for extra crunch and flavor.
Herb Variation: Add fresh herbs like parsley or mint for an added pop of flavor

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Side Dish or Light Main
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired