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large white bowl with greens, pasta, chicken, grapes, fresh basil, and pine nuts

Vineyard Chicken and Pasta Salad

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

Salad:

  • 12 ounces bow tie or other favorite shape pasta
  • 4 to 6 cups chopped spring greens or baby spinach
  • 2 to 3 cups cooked, chopped chicken (see note)
  • 1 cup green or red grapes (or a combo), halved
  • 3 to 4 green onions or bunch of chives, finely chopped
  • ½ cup toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds
  • ½ cup shaved or grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ to ½ cup torn or chopped fresh basil

Dressing:

  • ½ cup oil (see note)
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • Pinch black pepper

Instructions 

  • Cook the pasta in lightly salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool (toss every once in a while so it doesn't stick together).
  • Whisk or blend all the dressing ingredients together until well-combined.
  • Assemble the salad by placing the chopped greens in a serving bowl. Top with pasta, chicken, grapes, green onions (or chives), pine nuts (or sunflower seeds), cheese, and fresh basil.
  • Drizzle dressing over the salad and lightly toss until combined. Serve immediately.

Notes

Chicken: this recipe works great with rotisserie chicken. It's also delicious with a flavorful grilled chicken, like this lemon and garlic grilled chicken. 
Oil: a variety of different oils work in this dressing. Olive oil lends a more prominent flavor. A neutral-flavored oil can also be used.
Cheese: to get cheese shavings (Parm or Asiago), I use my vegetable peeler and slice thin strips from a block of cheese. 
Variations/Adaptations: cooked, crumbled bacon would be amazing on this salad (will definitely do that from now on). Also, most of the salad ingredients do quite well just being eyeballed. Add more or less of any of them depending on what you have on hand and the overall vibe you're looking for in the salad.