This super easy Pasta Salad with Chicken contains about an equal amount of pasta and other mix-ins for maximum flavor, texture, and nutrition in each bowl. Bonus: This family dinner is easy to customize and make ahead!
I love relying on my best pasta salad recipes because they are easy to put together and I love being able to make a main dish ahead of time—and still have it taste great whether it’s served right after cooking or hours later.
And this easy Pasta Salad with Chicken is wonderful to share with the kids because it’s bursting with fresh flavors—but relies on kid-friendly ingredients. You can serve this with the components all mixed together or with them separated out according to your child’s preference.
There are also a load of variations, so you can customize it for the ingredients you have or for the ones you prefer. And you can pack it in a kid lunch box as an easy school lunch idea.
(You may also like my Pasta with Summer Squash and my easy Orzo Pasta Salad. For a slightly different flavor profile, you can go with my Pesto Pasta Salad or even my Rice Noodle Salad, too.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make this simple toddler dinner you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand and ready to go.
- Cherry tomatoes: Any color will work here and in any variety, so choose the ones your family likes.
- Fresh basil: This adds a load of flavor (and is easy to eat around if the kids don’t love green foods).
- Fresh garlic: Adding fresh garlic to the dressing of the pasta salad ensures it’s flavorful.
- Olive oil: I use extra-virgin olive oil in my cooking, so that’s what I’m using in this recipe.
- Pasta: I prefer a smaller shape like wagon wheels or elbows here, since they are roughly the same size as the rest of the ingredients, though any can work.
- White beans: A can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed, works well here to add another texture as well as fiber and vegetarian protein.
- Cooked chicken: You can use Pan-Seared Chicken Tenders or purchased grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken. I like to have the chicken fully cooked before I start making the recipe so it’s quick to toss together.
- Cheese: Such as crumbled goat or feta, or diced mozzarella, according to what your family prefers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process involved in making this pasta salad with chicken. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information.
- Add the tomatoes, basil, garlic, salt, and olive oil to a bowl. Toss well and let sit to allow the flavors to marinate.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Gather your add-ins, and remove the basil and garlic from the bowl with the tomatoes—you’ll get the flavor infused into the tomatoes without the raw taste/texture that some kids won’t like.
- Mix it all together!
TIP: This can be served at room temperature or chilled, though it’s best if it’s not ice cold.
Can I leave out the chicken?
To make this vegetarian, you can simply omit the chicken. You can add in another protein (shrimp, extra firm tofu, chunks of wild salmon) or you can leave it be with just the beans.
I would suggest a smaller shape such as wagon wheels, mini wagon wheels, elbows, or farfalle since they are close to the size of the rest of the ingredients—which makes the pasta salad easy to eat!
Best Cheese for Pasta Salad
You can use crumbled goat or feta cheese, or diced mozzarella. You could even use shredded mozzarella or cheddar if you prefer. It’s really quite flexible!
How to Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can make this pasta salad the day before you intend to serve it. Let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving so it’s not ice cold.
Best Tips for Success
- Use your favorite pasta, whether traditional or a bean pasta from brands like Barilla or Banza as an extra iron rich food for kids.
- Use any kind of cooked chicken you like. (I like to buy a grilled breast from the prepared foods counter to make this easy on myself!)
- Omit the chicken to make this vegetarian.
- Shred the basil and leave it in the pasta mixture if your kids don’t mind flecks of green.
- To make this easy family dinner dairy-free, simply omit the cheese. You could add roasted, salted sunflower seeds for a little extra flavor and nutrients if desired.
- To make this gluten-free, simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta. We like the gluten-free Barilla pasta or Banza chickpea pastas. (Do be sure to follow the cooking directions and rinse them if they say to rinse them for the best texture results.)
I’d love to hear what your family thinks of this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!
Pasta Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves (very lightly packed when measuring)
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and smashed)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 10 ounces pasta
- 14.5- ounce can small white beans (like cannellini)
- 2 cups diced fully cooked chicken
- 6 ounces crumbled goat cheese (or feta or diced mozzarella)
Instructions
- Place the tomatoes, olive oil, basil leaves, garlic, and salt into a large bowl. Stir together. Set aside for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.
- Remove the basil and garlic from the tomato mixture. (The flavor will be in there!) Discard.
- Stir in the pasta, beans, chicken, and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Use your favorite pasta, whether traditional or a newer bean pasta from brands like Barilla or Banza.
- Use any kind of cooked chicken you like. (I like to buy a grilled breast from the prepared foods counter to make this easy on myself!)
- Omit the chicken to make this vegetarian.
- Shred the basil and leave it in the pasta mixture if your kids don’t mind flecks of green.
Nutrition
This post was first published August 2019.
Absolutely delicious and also very simple! My husband was a big fan too. I’ll definitely be adding this to our meal rotation. All the textures and flavours meld so perfectly! Thank you for the recipe!
Incredible and the leftovers are super tasty as well! Really enjoyed this for meal prep.
Can you freeze this?
I think you should be able to, though the pasta might soften a bit once it’s thawed and I can’t guarantee that the tomatoes would have the same texture.
I haven’t tried that and it’s possible that the texture of the tomatoes wouldn’t be the same after thawing. Otherwise I think it would be okay.
Thank you forr ï½…very othï½…r magnificent article
This was pretty good! I put a little Italian dressing on mine for a little extra flavor. But my two year old refused to even look at it. He won’t try, touch, or smell anything that isn’t waffles, berries or oatmeal. The struggle is real in my house
Hang in there, I know how hard this phase is!