Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad is a flavorful side dish that your friends and family will love! It comes together fairly quickly, and it's topped with a homemade creamy dressing with fresh cilantro.

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Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe
• 🍴Ingredient Notes
• 🍴Step by Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• How to store leftovers
• Recipe
• Want more recipes?
• 💬 Reviews

Why you'll love this recipe

• This dish is bursting with flavor and made with simple ingredients that you'll feel good serving to your family and friends.
• It's gluten-free AND dairy-free!
• It's a great side dish for grilled food or summer picnics!

I recommend cooking extra chicken and bacon for meal prep. Use leftovers to make my simple Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps!

🍴Ingredient Notes

• Gluten-Free Pasta - For this recipe I used Jovial Cassava Flour Penne, but any gluten-free pasta would work for this recipe! I would not recommend the brown rice version because it gets too firm up as it cools.
• Chicken Breast - I love using Butcher Box chicken breast. To save time, use a rotisserie chicken!
• Cherry Tomatoes - Any small tomato will work!
• Avocados - Make sure the avocados are soft before cutting into them.
• Diced Red Onion - To tone down the flavor of red onion, let the diced onion sit in a bowl of water for 10 minutes.
• Bacon - Any bacon will work but I love using Butcher Box.

Creamy Dressing

• Mayo - I used Primal Kitchen Mayo made with avocado oil.
• Cilantro - Fresh cilantro works best! You'll need a little extra for garnish on top.
• Lemon Juice - Fresh squeezed lemon juice gives this creamy dressing a lighter feel!
• Apple Cider Vinegar - You only need a splash!
• Paprika - To give this dressing a kick, I love adding paprika! Feel free to add more if you like it spicy!
• Garlic Powder - Just a subtle hint of garlic rounds out the flavors in this dish.

🍴Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Cooking Pasta

Start by cooking pasta based on the instructions on the package. Rinse, and set aside to cool while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 2: Preparing Chicken & Bacon

Next, cook the chicken breast in a skillet on medium heat for about 6 minutes on each side. (Or until you can't see pink in the center.)

Then cook the bacon on medium heat until crispy. Set bacon and chicken aside to cool.

Step 3: Putting together pasta salad

Finally, add pasta, diced red onion, cherry tomatoes, avocado, chopped chicken breast, and bacon pieces into a large bowl.

Step 4: Making Creamy Dressing

Whisk together dressing ingredients with a fork or whisk until smooth and creamy. Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and place in the refrigerator to chill.

Expert Tips

• Generously salt the water when you add in the pasta. I find this gives the pasta a little more flavor as it's cooking!
• Rinse the pasta after you drain it. I've found that rinsing it with cool water after you drain it helps to bring down the temperature before you mix the salad together.
• Add olive oil to the pasta to avoid it sticking together and becoming a huge clump.
• Prepare the salad ahead of time. I typically serve mine at least an hour after I make it. The flavors take time to mesh together, and it tastes best when it's chilled.
• Don't feel like making the dressing? Pour over ranch dressing to make prep time easier! (Primal Kitchen is my favorite!)

How to store leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container - I like using glass containers! You can also cover the serving bowl with plastic or reusable wrap.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.

More salad recipes!

After you make this Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!

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