Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender chicken, spiral pasta, and crisp vegetables tossed in zesty honey-mustard dressing

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz spiral pasta (fusilli or rotini)

→ Chicken

02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 10 oz)
03 - 1 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp 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 tbsp Dijon mustard
13 - 2 tbsp honey
14 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
15 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
16 - 2 tbsp olive oil
17 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# How to Prepare:

01 - Prepare pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside in a large bowl.
02 - Season chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes, then dice or slice into bite-sized pieces.
03 - Add cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, celery, and salad greens (if using) to the bowl with the cooled pasta.
04 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The honey mustard dressing is one of those magical combinations that makes everything taste better, and you will want to put it on everything from salads to sandwiches
  • Its a complete meal in one bowl that somehow tastes even better after the flavors hang out in the fridge for a bit
02 -
  • The first time I made this I added the dressing to hot pasta and the mayonnaise basically melted into this weird separated situation, so let everything cool down first
  • Grilling the chicken instead of pan-frying it adds this smoky depth that takes the whole salad to another level, though it is completely optional
03 -
  • Save a little pasta water before draining because a splash can loosen the dressing if it gets too thick in the fridge
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it in because mustards and honeys vary wildly in sweetness and intensity
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