California Chicken Club Pasta Salad
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.
- Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
- Cook Time: 10 MINUTES
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 SERVINGS 1x
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: American
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