Dried Cherry Nut Chicken Pasta Salad

Elevate your pasta salad game with this delightful Dried Cherry Nut Chicken Pasta Salad, a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and crunchy goodness. Featuring tender bow-tie pasta, juicy cooked chicken, and a medley of dried cherries, toasted pecans or walnuts, and crisp celery, every bite bursts with texture and flavor. A creamy, tangy dressing made with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, and apple cider vinegar ties it all together beautifully, while the addition of finely diced red onion adds a subtle zing. This easy-to-make recipe takes just 30 minutes of prep and chilling, making it ideal for lunch, potlucks, or a light dinner. Customize it with a sprinkle of fresh parsley before serving, and enjoy a chilled and refreshing dish that’s sure to impress. Perfect for meal prep or entertaining, this chicken pasta salad is hearty, flavorful, and undeniably satisfying.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces bow-tie pasta (farfalle)
• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
• 1 cup dried cherries
• 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 small red onion, finely diced
• 0.75 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the bow-tie pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded or cubed chicken, dried cherries, toasted nuts, diced celery, and finely diced red onion.

Step 3

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. This will be the dressing.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over the chicken and pasta mixture. Gently toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.

Step 6

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad a final stir and garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Step 8

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1719.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4513.4

Total Fat 237.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 594.3mg	0%
Sodium 2519.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 384.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 28.2g	0%
Total Sugars 81.8g
Protein 213.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 530.5mg	0%
Iron 14.4mg	0%
Potassium 3473.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 47.2%

Protein: 18.9%

Carbs: 33.9%