Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad
If you have ever grabbed a side of pasta salad at Chicken Salad Chick and found yourself thinking about it for days, you are not alone. This cold pasta salad is built on tri-color rotini tossed in a tangy Italian dressing, loaded with marinated artichoke hearts, briny black olives, and salty crumbled feta. Ready in about 20 minutes of active prep, it is the kind of make-ahead side that gets better the longer it sits in the fridge.
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Why should you try this recipe for Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad?
There is nothing fancy about the Pasta Salad they serve at Chicken Salad Chick, so why is it so addictive? Maybe it is the tang of the dressing, the bite of the marinated artichoke hearts, the hit of salt from the crumbled feta, or the briny black olives. Or perhaps it’s how light and fresh it tastes.
Whatever the reason, this Pasta Salad recipe needs to be on the menu this summer. Serve it as a side, or add a sliced cooked protein to turn it into a complete meal. Make extra and keep it in the fridge for a quick and satisfying bite all season long.
Pasta Salad ingredients and their roles in this copycat recipe
For this copycat Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad recipe, you’ll need:
- Tri-color rotini pasta – a colorful but plain base that soaks up all the seasonings beautifully.
- Italian salad dressing – forms the base of the pasta dressing with a ton of seasonings and that very distinctive tang.
- Italian seasoning – echoes and boosts the flavors found in Italian dressing.
- Artichoke hearts, marinated in a jar and chopped – give the salad a little bit of flair, texture, and tang.
- Black olives, sliced, lend a touch of briny, slightly metallic flavor, which is a classic Mediterranean taste.
- Feta cheese, crumbled – brings pops of salt without any of the creaminess of other cheeses.
- Parmesan cheese, grated (using canned Parmesan cheese) – this is one of the real times when the cheap stuff actually works better. The Parmesan cheese in the green can is dry and fine enough to soak up the dressing, and won’t add a waxy texture like the fresh cheese can.
- Salt (optional) – enhances the taste of the other ingredients.
- Black pepper (optional) – adds a bit of warmth and slight bitterness.
How to make Pasta Salad like Chicken Salad Chick
To recreate this copycat Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad recipe at home:
- Cook the pasta as directed on the packaging. Some people prefer the texture of softer pasta in a salad. If that is your preference, add about a minute to the cooking time.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water. Don’t skip this step. Besides quickly cooling the rotini, rinsing the pasta washes off the starch that can bind the dressing.
- Transfer the rinsed pasta to a container and refrigerate until chilled, at least an hour.
- While the pasta is in the fridge, mix together the Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, chopped artichoke hearts, and sliced black olives.
- Add the mixture to the bowl of chilled pasta and stir well.
- Sprinkle the crumbled feta and Parmesan over the dressed salad, then stir very well to combine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour before serving to allow all the flavors to come together.
What to serve with Pasta Salad from Chicken Salad Chick
This copycat Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad recipe is best with summer-y dishes that are light and bright. Think old seafood, grilled chicken, or one of the dishes below.
Classic New Orleans Shrimp Remoulade – This is the home version of the Shrimp Remoulade they serve at Galatoire’s in New Orleans. It starts with plump shrimp, boiled in a well-seasoned broth and immediately chilled. The well-chilled shrimp get tossed in an authentic remoulade sauce and then served on a bed of lettuce for one unforgettable starter or light meal.
Grilled Shish Kabobs – These skewers are what you want to make when you can’t decide what you want to eat. They are loaded with whole shrimp, beef chunks, and a bunch of veggies, but it is the dip in the garlic-butter sauce right before serving that elevates this recipe above your average backyard shish kabobs.
Cracker Barrel Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad – The juicy, sweet, and tart tomatoes provide the ideal balance to the sharp, pungent white onions, while the crisp, cool English cucumbers add a ton of crunch. The simple dressing adds just enough flavor to bring this salad together.
Storage instructions for Pasta Salad
Refrigerator Storage: Transfer the unserved copycat Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad to an airtight container. To help prevent the pasta from drying out, place plastic wrap directly against the food. Although the pasta will last for up to three days in the fridge, it will continue to absorb the dressing as it sits. If the pasta salad appears too dry, you can add a splash or two of Italian dressing and toss it before serving.
More Chicken Salad Chick copycat recipes
- Barbi-Q Chicken Salad
- Classic Carol Chicken Salad
- Dill-icious Diva Chicken Salad
- Egg Salad
- Fancy Nancy Chicken Salad
- Grape Salad
Check out more of my easy salad recipes to make for lunch or dinner.
Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Chicken Salad Chick Pasta Salad Copycat
Ingredients
- 12 ounces tri-color rotini pasta
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup chopped artichoke hearts
- 1/3 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese from a jar
- salt if needed
- ground black pepper if needed
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Rinse with cold water and refrigerate until chilled.
- In a small bowl, combine the Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, artichoke hearts, and black olives. Mix well.
- Pour the dressing mixture over the chilled pasta. Add the feta and Parmesan and toss to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and ground black pepper if desired.
- Cover and refrigerate for an hour before serving.
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