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 like this Chicken Pasta Salad, 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 is the FIRST EVER pasta salad that I’ve ever made and its absolutely DELICIOUS!!
That’s so great to hear Maria! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this! N x
Hello Again Nagi,
This recipe kept calling out to me and so I made it using just the oil from the tomatoes. ( There was enough in the jar)
I convinced myself that because of the colour, it wasn’t really “Oil”
It was Superb Nagi!!!
Only trouble is, the very food fussy English husband whom I assumed would not eat it and therefore made him something else…..proceeded to scoff most of it. Now there isn’t enough for me. SIGH!!! (I halved the recipe quantities)
Thanks for another lovely recipe Nagi.
Susan from the UK. xx
I’m totally with you on the vinaigrette for pasta salads. I recently made a pasta salad with sour cream, and while I loved it, I do favor a vinaigrette, especially in the summer! I totally love the idea to add artichokes.
Plus anything to not have to turn on my oven this summer…it’s to damn hot.
Hi Nagi,
Going to make this for later today.
Can I ask though do you use kosher salt or fine table salt?
I’m in the UK and we mainly use fine table salt for cooking so I need to make sure as the volume/weight will be quite different to kosher salt.
Many thanks
I have made a number of your recipes over the past few weeks and they are all perfect!
Made this pasta salad last night and it was delicious. Looking forward to lunch today!
Glad you enjoyed this Marissa!!! Thank you for taking the time to leave feedback! N x
Hello Nagi.
Really want to try this but have a terrible problem with oils. it makes me heave. Can i use a substitute…. if only to top up the oil from the sundried tomatoes if necessary. Really hope you can come up with something.
Thank You.
Susan
Hi Susan! What do you usually use in place of oil in dressings? 🙂
Never made one Nagi. Unbelievable I Know, so any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thank you Nagi.
Can’t keep my eyes off Dozer naturally! Poor frustrated guy but at least he is out of the cage !! Standing evenly: great! But how long before his furry back stocking grows back? Don’t let him near a mirror !!! Love the pasta salad – as I never ever have mayo in the house the dressing suits great: have not used oil from dried tomatoes either and am looking forwards to a slightly different taste. the only thing I would do differently would be to omit the dried herbs until I actually served the salad, and then use fresh ones !
His head just keeps growing bigger and bigger with such compliments…. 😂
Well, Nagi – your fault: he can’t read 🙂 !!! Who tells him? But oh jeez, it IS good to see him evenly on four legs again and not losing bone mass !!!
DOZER looks much better! No doubt HE is iching to go outside. Nagi GOD help YOU when HE finala ventures outside. RECONECT hell BE LIKE loše Canon. We ARE heating for very wet weekend. BE good.
BA HA HA! You are so right 🙂 He is absolutely busting to run around like a loon, every time I take him out to the toilet, he’s straining on the lead like crazy! N xx
Hi Nagi, loving that pasta salad. It’s a must to do.
Dozer looks good even from behind 😊. Bird watching and newspaper flapping …good stuff ..he’ll have lots to talk about with his friend when he fully recovers 😂😂
I hope you feel much better soon.
“Dozer looks good even from behind” <--- BA HA HA!!! Though I do concur... very cute butt 😂 Thank you for the well wishes, I feel much better! N xx
Could you please give me your exact measurements of the dried herb mixture you use ? Your recipes are always spot on and I’d like to try it your way first before making any changes to suit my family. Thank you.
Hi Betty! Thank you for asking, I should have clarified – I use a store bought dried herb pack called “Mixed Herbs”, but otherwise my standard is equal parts thyme, oregano, parsley and basil plus a pinch of rosemary, because I always have those on hand! I updated the recipe to say this. 🙂 N x
Thank you for asking this- I’m the same with Nagi’s recipes; I like to make them exactly as she does the first go-round as it’s almost always exactly what I love!
Hi Becca! Thank you for asking, I should have clarified – I use a store bought dried herb pack called “Mixed Herbs”, but otherwise my standard is equal parts thyme, oregano, parsley and basil plus a pinch of rosemary, because I always have those on hand! I updated the recipe to say this. 🙂 N x
Nagi, this looks amazing!!! I can’t see the calorie content anywhere, do you know how many calories are in this?
Oops, I uploaded it then forgot to insert! Added 🙂 N x
I make a lot of pasta salads, so I am always interested to see a new one.
I have never added sun dried tomatoes so I will have to give it a try.
I grow my own tomatoes so I actually make my own sun dried tomatoes. Homemade are far better and at least here certainly much cheaper too. If you have never done so I would recommend you giving it a go!
Unfortunately tomatoes here in Australia are sadly lacking in quality so I’ve never found myself in a position where I’ve wanted to stock pile and make my own. I just don’t understand why our tomatoes are so bad! We can only get good ones at farmer’s markets and we pay through the nose for them!!
Just to let you know that I have just tried the recipe and it was delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Hello Nagi,
I think it is very difficult to find good vegetables, especially tomatoes, and fruit in most shops. As in most things these days, most companies look to maximise profits often at the expense of quality.
Farmers markets and smaller shops often sell better quality produce but as you say it is at a cost.
I am fortunate enough to be able to grow mush of what we eat. If I had to go back to buying fruit and vegetables in large shops and supermarkets I am not sure what I would do!
Yeah yeah, RUB IT IN!!! 😂
Dear oh Dear, Dear Nagi,
It’s understandable that you perhaps can’t rear your own beef/lamb/pork etc. but you can grow your own tomatoes!
Even with no garden, they will grow very happily in large pots (or a grow bag). Simply purchase a couple of (determinate)* seedlings, put them in a sunny spot, and feed and water them now and again. You will feel the joy and pleasure of watching your green baby toms swell and swell, and eventually they blush bright red with pride!
Just like you will … when you taste the flavour of your very own “tomtartoes”!!! …
So … no more whinging about toms lacking flavour!!! R xx
* “Determinate” tomatoes have a determined or limited size; they are bushy, easy to harvest, and they do not spread and ramble, and need staking etc.
P.S. Just luuuurve your flavour-filled recipes.
I know I know! I’ve grown tomatoes in the past with much success 🙂 The problem is I live by the ocean in a very exposed area and only the hardiest of plants can survive! I even struggle with ordinary herbs 🙂 N x
Not only are your recipes great, but rather easy to make.!
Good to see Dozer up with his muscles starting to come back! My wife’s guide will be having surgery in the next 2 weeks.
Do you mean guide dog? What kind of surgery? I’m so sorry to hear that, I hope he/she will recover quickly! N x
Will be making this recipe during my visit with my sister. Love Sun Dried tomatoes. Thank you Nagi.
You’re so welcome Linda! I hope she loves it! N x
That’s right – break my heart with that photo! Dozer’s world has shrunk to watching newspaper swirling. Oh I could weep. BUT look how his hair is growing back and he’s on his feet. He will be back to normal very soon so you better get all those tasks on your list done before he’s into everything again. Hot and humid here in Atlanta. About to make your avocado chickpea hummus. And if you could know how your food processor scones have revolutionized tea time! I usually make half the recipe and make four HUGE scones … made three last time and they were so lofty they lurched onto one side. Looked hilarious, tasted delicious. And definitely jam first.
I LOVE HEARING THAT!!!! Especially that you’re in the jam first camp 😂 The best thing about his hair growing back is NO MORE SHAVING RASH. Oh boy, that was irritating him the most, even more than the stitches!!! 😂
Definitely great for any time of the year, Nagi! I love using the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. Adds that extra flavor. You know I might add in a pinch of something spicy for me. Haha! Great recipe. 5 stars all the way.
Hey! I DID add a pinch of red pepper flakes! Oh wait – I think I forgot ti add that clip in the video!! 😩
Oh my gosh Nagi, you use the oil from your sun-dried tomatoes too? I thought I was the only one but it has got to be a good thing if you do it. I love this!! I sure hope your feeling better quickly.
I see Dozer’s fur is coming in nicely. He will be back to normal in no time at all.
Always!!! I make a couscous salad where I literally dump the entire jar all over the couscous 🙂 It’s SO GOOD!
Who wouldn’t like this pasta salad. Sounds great and the dressing, I think, would be for fantastic basting the old bird on the Weber as well.
The Doz is looking a bit like an African lion from the back side. Well half of his back side anyway…
That is a ripper idea Rob! I’m totally trying that 🙂 Someone else told me about a master marinade they make using the oil and some sun dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon etc, whizz it up and they swear it’s the most incredible marinade for anything, especially for grilling!
Poor lil’ Dozer….
He’ll soon be out & about !
This recipe on the menu for my husband & my lunches for remainder of the week!
LOVE your recipes!
PERFECT for lunches day after day after day!!! 🙂 N x
This looks amazing… now that summer is (finally) here in Toronto, always looking for salad recipes. Thanks Nagi, and glad to see Dozer recovering so well!
Glad to hear summer has finally arrived! Gosh it took its time this year, didn’t it???
Thank you for the recipe! I added finely diced red capsicum & spring onions (instead of the red onion) & rocket & basil leaves for the “greens”. plus some capers.I had to make do with what I had, & it turned out wonderfully “adult”
Your additions are fantastic!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it Linda! N x