Description

This Zesty Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad is a refreshing and vibrant dish perfect for summer feasts. Combining tender cooked chicken, crisp apples, celery, juicy red grapes, toasted walnuts, and rotini pasta, all tossed in a bright, creamy dressing made with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, and celery seed. Chilled to meld the flavors, this salad offers a wonderful balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes, making it ideal for barbecues, picnics, or a light, satisfying lunch.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Protein

8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

Produce

1 large apple, cored and diced
1 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup red grapes, halved
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
Zest of 1 lemon

Nuts

1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, celery seed, salt, pepper, and lemon zest until the mixture is smooth and bright in flavor.
Combine ingredients: Add the cooled rotini pasta, shredded chicken, diced apple, sliced celery, halved grapes, chopped toasted walnuts, and sliced green onions to the bowl with the dressing.
Toss the salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until the pasta and chicken are thoroughly coated with the zesty dressing and the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the salad.
Chill the salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop fully.
Serve: Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and garnish with additional lemon zest or extra chopped walnuts for added freshness and crunch. Enjoy chilled for the best taste.

Notes

For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt or use avocado oil mayonnaise.
To add a bit of heat, sprinkle in a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
You can swap walnuts for pecans or almonds depending on preference or allergies.
For a dairy-free option, use a vegan mayo and omit the Greek yogurt.
Adding fresh herbs like dill or parsley can enhance the fresh flavor profile.