Description
A refreshing and flavorful pasta salad featuring bow tie pasta, tender cooked chicken, crunchy toasted almonds, sweet grapes, and a tangy poppy seed dressing made with Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. This dish is perfect for a light lunch or as a side for any meal, offering a delightful balance of textures and sweet-savory flavors.
Ingredients
Pasta and Protein
- 8 oz bow tie pasta
- 2 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken (about 1 lb cooked boneless chicken breasts)
Vegetables and Fruits
- 1 ½ cups halved red grapes
- 4 stalks celery, diced (about 1 cup)
- ½ yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
Nuts
- 1 cup whole raw almonds
Dressing
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (whole milk preferred)
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup avocado or olive oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 4 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook bow tie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Roast Almonds: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread whole raw almonds evenly on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes, stir, then roast for another 5 minutes or until almonds are golden and fragrant. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cooled, chop the almonds coarsely and set aside.
- Make Dressing: While pasta cooks and almonds roast, whisk together Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, avocado or olive oil, maple syrup, poppy seeds, and sea salt in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate dressing until ready to use.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, shredded or diced cooked chicken, halved grapes, diced celery, diced yellow onion, and chopped toasted almonds.
- Toss Salad: Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Chill and Serve: Serve the pasta salad immediately or refrigerate in a covered container for 1–2 hours to allow flavors to meld before serving. Enjoy chilled.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken breasts for best texture; rotisserie chicken works well for convenience.
- Make sure to cool the pasta thoroughly to prevent the dressing from becoming watery.
- To toast almonds without an oven, use a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until fragrant and golden.
- The salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days for optimal freshness.
- Adjust the amount of maple syrup in the dressing for sweetness preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
