Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad: A Fresh, Flavor-Packed Meal for Any Day
Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish packed with protein-rich chicken, crunchy veggies, briny olives, and creamy feta, all tossed in a zesty lemon-garlic dressing. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or a healthy lunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (grilled or roasted)
- 3 cups cooked pasta (fusilli or penne, cooked al dente)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- ½ cup kalamata olives (pitted and sliced)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ¼ cup olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional: add a pinch of thyme or basil)
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and dried oregano to make the dressing.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and parsley.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine.
4. Add crumbled feta cheese and gently mix to avoid breaking it up too much.
5. Chill for at least 15–30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
Great for meal prep—keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can substitute rotisserie chicken for quicker prep.
For a vegetarian version, omit chicken and add more veggies or chickpeas.
Drizzle with a little balsamic glaze for extra flavor, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/mediterranean-chicken-pasta-salad/