Description
This California chicken club pasta salad is creamy, fresh, and packed with flavor. Made with tender chicken, crispy bacon, avocado, tomatoes, and rotini pasta tossed in a tangy creamy dressing—perfect for summer BBQs, meal prep, or an easy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Salad
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
For the Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until completely cooled.
- In a large bowl, add cooled pasta, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, red onion, and cheddar cheese.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour dressing over pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Gently fold in chopped lettuce and diced avocado just before serving.
- Chill for 30–60 minutes for best flavor, or serve immediately.
Notes
- Add avocado right before serving to prevent browning
- Use rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut
- For a lighter version, swap half the mayo for Greek yogurt
- Add a splash of dressing before serving if making ahead
- Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
- Cook Time: 10 MINUTES
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: American