The star of this big, juicy Pasta Salad is the dressing – it’s made using the flavour infused oil from the Sun Dried Tomatoes. Never throw away free flavour – especially when it’s this good! Quick to make and a big crowd pleaser, this can be as diverse as you want it to be!
According to Google, there are 433 million results when you’re searching for a Pasta Salad.
So what makes this one different?
A MUST-TRY PASTA SALAD DRESSING
It’s the Dressing. 🙂 It’s a vinaigrette, and it’s made using the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. And it’s not only infused with sun dried tomato flavour, it’s got a bunch of other flavourings as well, all things we love – garlic, herbs, sugar, salad and pepper.
So I use the flavour infused oil from the jar as the base for the Pasta Salad Dressing, then add other usual suspects – vinegar, garlic, mustard – plus a healthy dose of dried herbs.
There will always be a place in my heart for creamy dressings, but there’s no denying that I find pasta salads tossed with vinaigrettes more appealing. They’re just fresher and lighter, and it means I can enjoy them day after day and not feel weighed down / guilty about excess mayo consumption.
WHAT INGREDIENTS GO IN A PASTA SALAD??
In this pasta salad, we’ve got cooked pasta, chicken, sun dried tomato, baby spinach, tomatoes and onion with a pasta salad dressing. But as with most pasta salad recipes, this is adaptable to what you’ve got on hand or whatever you want to put in it!
This is a particularly great pasta salad for taking somewhere or making ahead because it keeps exceptionally well.
I know you hear that often – that pasta salads keep well. But in this case, it really does – because it’s light on fresh veggies. Just tomatoes and baby spinach which does wilt once dressed but then seemingly becomes more integrated into the pasta salad, rather than being off-puttingly limp like when it’s in a normal salad.
I’m probably doing myself a major disservice here by saying that it’s light on fresh veggies, it doesn’t make it sound very summery, does it? 🙂
But actually, this is a terrific year round pasta salad because it’s lovely served warm too. Try it! – Nagi x
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Chicken
Ingredients
- 375 g / 12 oz spiral pasta , or other pasta of choice
- 220 g / 7 oz jar sun dried tomato strips in oil
- 2 cups (packed) shredded cooked chicken
- 250 g / 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved
- 75 g / 2.5 oz baby spinach (2 big handfuls)
- 1 small red onion, quartered and finely sliced
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (Note 1)
- 100 g / 3 oz feta, crumbled
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup / 85 ml oil from sun dried tomatoes
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (Note 1)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Drain oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes.
- Measure out 1/3 cup of the oil, top with extra virgin olive oil if short. Reserve excess oil for another purpose.
- Add remaining Dressing ingredients. Mix well.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water per packet directions.
- Drain, then rinse briefly under cold water. Leave to cool.
- Transfer into large bowl. Add spinach, chicken, tomato, onion, pour over Dressing.
- Toss well, sprinkle with dried herbs, toss again.
- Just before serving, sprinkle with crumbled feta. Best served at room temperature.
Make ahead PRO TIP (Note 2):
- SCOOP OUT a mug of pasta cooking water just before draining. Add 3 tbsp water to Dressing, shake well. Use this Dressing per above, but reserve 3 tbsp to freshen up pasta salad on Day 2 onwards.
- Freshen up pasta salad: Bring to room temp or briefly microwave (cold pasta = dry) to warm gently. Toss with Reserved Dressing then serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
He spends a lot of time peering out the window nowadays…. watching passer-byers, the birds that flit around in the trees, newspaper swirling in the wind on the driveway (especially fascinated by this…….)
* For those playing catch up, Dozer completely ruptured his ACL and had to undergo surgery. We’re 3 weeks into a 3 – 4 month recovery period. Challenging for this highly active dog.?
This was reliably great, Nagi. Thank you!
Thanks so much Crystal!
Wow! I can’t believe it took me so long to try this little gem! So quick and easy to put together and it tastes amazing! It’s only an hour old, I’m hoping to get leftovers tomorrow to see how it improves over night. Thanks again Nagi! x
This one’s just fab – and perfect for meal prep as it lasts in the fridge for a few days 🙂
Another great one! Cuddles to Dozer. Annabelle wants to see him again soon!
So good!! Added olive instead of chicken thank you!
Yum!
Made this. Loved it
That’s great Aly! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I found this recipe on Facebook and it looked really good, so I made it this past weekend. OH MY GOD, it’s my new favorite pasta salad! I made it exactly as the recipe states and wouldn’t change a thing.
WOOT! Best feedback ever! Thanks Amy – N x
Forgot to add, just made it as a salad no chicken as plenty of meat was supplied at friend’s.
Sounds great Marea!
Nagi, I have made this recipe many times. I took it along to lunch at a friend’s yesterday. Everyone loved it. I always make it the day before I need it as the flavour is more developed. Thank you 🌻
Fantastic recipe!
I’m so glad you love it!
I love all your recipes! Can’t wait to try them ALL!
Hi Nagi,
LOVE your recipes. What is the title of song in your videos that accompanies the steps to making dish. I love the music.
Hi Mary! It’s actually a stock music track I purchased for videos from Premium Beats, it’s called We Can’t Slow Down by the Origami Pigeons! N xx
Hi Nagi
I’ve made this salad a couple of times, and we love it! The tomato oil for the dressing is inspired! I couldn’t get baby spinach at this time of year here (Italy) so I used rucola instead. Delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe 😊
That’s great to hear Justine! So glad you enjoyed it! N x
I made the salad, although I couldn’t find sun dried tomatoes packed in oil (!) — so for an intermediate plan, I put chopped up sun dried tomatoes together with olive oil in a jar for a few days and used that. The salad came out quite well, but since, I’VE FOUND SUN DRIED TOMATOES IN OIL, and am looking forward to trying the recipe again for a July 4th picnic —
Thanks Nagi, for another terrific idea!
That’s terrific Nadine! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one – thanks for letting me know! N x
I made this without the chicken (as a side dish for a work luncheon) and I added kalamata olives. It was a big hit!!! Using the oil from the sun dried tomatoes is brilliant! Thanks for the recipe! It will be my new go to when I need a quick side dish.
How lovely is this pasta salad!!!!! Made it on the weekend (minus chicken) & served with steak & corn cobs.
You’re not wrong Nagi, the dressing definitely ticks all boxes.
Enjoyed it last night with salmon. Very versatile dish indeedy.
Happy belated birthday big boy!
That’s terrific to hear Barb! So glad you enjoyed this! N x
Oh, Poor Dozer! Heal quickly, big buddy. And the pasta salad looks scrumptious! I’ll give it a go this week. Thanks!
Hope you do Cynthia!!
This salad is absolutely delicious and beautiful to boot. I was iffy about the dressing made with the oil from sun dried tomatoes but it is genius! Another winner from Nagi and Dozer!
Another great dish. I made this on Friday night and although I didn’t have the feta, it went down a treat.
Keep them coming.
So glad you enjoyed this John!! Did your grand daughter get some of this too? 🙂 N x
It’s all Dozer! He is so precious! Give him hugs for us all!
The pasta looks fabulous — it’s on my weekend to-do plans!
😂 Big hug passed on!!!