Chicken Pasta Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

This chicken pasta salad is so delicious and easy to make. With a tangy dressing it's perfect either warm or cold!

I feel this chicken pasta salad with tomato vinaigrette may well be the last salad this year.

At least that's how I feel at the moment with the combination of the rain pouring down and the wind howling outside.

Not a great sign already for things possibly to come when we're only just about to creep into October!

Anyway, let's not get negative or carried away with how it is because as you know, that's not what we do here. We just get on with things.

So, this chicken pasta salad with tomato vinaigrette is a combination that I like, as opposed to that weather combination one mentioned earlier.

And, do you know when some combinations just go SO well together? Yeah? Well this salad combination with it's zingy tomato vinaigrette does just that!

I mean OK it took me trying about 4 different combinations to get this salad together.

The actual tomato vinaigrette part I found easy. I just experimented with a few basic kitchen cupboard ingredients and voila that part came together.

But it was through trying out different combinations of potatoes and various veg with the salad that I got stuck.

Finally settling on the whole wheat penne pasta which I found went perfectly with the chicken salad and tomato vinaigrette, was a relief!

I figured this chicken pasta salad with a flavourful vinaigrette would just be a nice and easy one today.

I've been through the difficulties myself to make it easy for you. 😉

It's completely versatile with the chicken and pasta being either warm or cold. too.

You'll find the delicious, tangy tomato vinaigrette in this chicken salad perfectly versatile and an ideal way to liven up your other pasta salad recipes too!

I guarantee this will fill you up if you had it as a packed lunch, right up until dinner time. How can I guarantee that? From experience! 🙂

Jump to:

• 👪 Why You Should Make This Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 Step By Step Instructions
• 📖 Substitutions
• 💭 FAQ's
• 🥗 More Healthy Salad Recipes For You To Try
• 📋 Chicken Pasta Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette Recipe
• 🧾 Nutrition Label
• ⭐ Rate The Recipe

👪 Why You Should Make This Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad

• Protein: Chicken is a good source of lean protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting the immune system, and maintaining muscle mass.
• Whole Grains: Whole wheat pasta provides complex carbohydrates and fibre helping to support digestive health.
• Vitamins and Minerals: The red bell pepper, red onion, and lemon juice in the salad contain essential vitamins and minerals such as as vitamin C, vitamin A, and various B vitamins, as well as minerals like potassium and manganese.
• Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil contains monounsaturated fats, which are heart-healthy. These fats can help improve cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation.
• Weight Management: The combination of lean protein, fiber-rich whole grains, and nutrient-dense vegetables can make this chicken pasta salad a filling and good option for weight loss as part of a balanced diet.

🥘 Ingredients

• Cooked Chicken Breasts
• Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
• Red Bell Pepper
• Red Onion
• Tomato Paste
• White Wine Vinegar
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice

See recipe card for quantities.

🔪 Step By Step Instructions

Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this easy healthy chicken pasta salad recipe:

1. Arrange the salad on a serving plate / bowl.
2. Place all the tomato vinaigrette ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together.
3. Pour the tomato vinaigrette over the salad and combine everything together, then serve.

📖 Substitutions

• Cooked Chicken Breasts - I use boneless skinless chicken breasts that I cook and then shred with a fork. You could also use leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken.
• Whole Wheat Penne Pasta - I use whole wheat to keep this chicken pasts salad healthy. You could use any kind though although that will alter the nutritional label.
• Red Bell Pepper - use any kind of bell pepper you like. Or a mixture of red, green and orange.
• Red Onion - you could use spring onions or scallions instead.
• Tomato Paste - you could use tomato sauce or tomato puree instead.
• White Wine Vinegar - you could use red wine vinegar or cider vinegar instead.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - use only a good quality olive oil for salads.
• Lemon Juice - freshly squeezed lemon juice is best.

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💭 FAQ's

How Many Calories Are In Chicken Pasta Salad?

There are 332 calories in this healthy chicken pasta salad.

How To Store?

This salad is best eaten the same day it is made. I don't recommend keeping it in the fridge for any more than 2 days. If you do keep it in the fridge store it in an air tight container and stir well before serving.

Can You Freeze?

No. I do not recommend freezing chicken pasta salad.

How To Serve With Chicken Pasta Salad?

The salad is completely versatile and you can add other ingredients if you like. Try serving it as a side with different types of meat or fish. It's great as an accompaniment to a BBQ as well!

Can Pasta Salad Be Eaten Hot Or Cold?

It doesn't matter. Hot is great and the dressing makes it an amazing tangy tomato pasta salad. Cold chicken pasta salad tastes great too and is ideal as a recipe for a packed lunch!

🥗 More Healthy Salad Recipes For You To Try

🧾 Nutrition Label

Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.

⭐ Rate The Recipe

If you’ve made this healthy chicken pasta salad recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.