Description

This Creamy Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad is a perfect refreshing and satisfying summer meal combining tender shredded chicken, al dente rotini pasta, crunchy celery, sweet grapes, crisp apples, and toasted walnuts all tossed in a luscious homemade creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard. Served chilled, it’s ideal for picnics, lunches, or light dinners with a harmonious blend of textures and flavors inspired by the classic Waldorf salad.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

2 cups cooked rotini pasta
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup red seedless grapes, halved
1 crisp apple, diced
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Dressing

1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Garnish (optional)

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Begin by cooking the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop further cooking. Set aside.
Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta along with shredded cooked chicken, chopped celery, halved red grapes, diced apples, and toasted walnuts. Gently toss to mix these ingredients evenly.
Prepare Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the dressing becomes smooth and creamy.
Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently to coat all ingredients thoroughly with the creamy dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed by adding more salt or pepper.
Chill for Best Flavor: For optimal taste, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. This allows the dressing to meld with the ingredients creating deeper flavor integration.
Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Serve chilled for a refreshing and satisfying summer dish perfect for picnics or light meals.

Notes

For a lighter option, substitute mayonnaise entirely with Greek yogurt or use avocado in part of the dressing for a creamy twist.
Walnuts can be replaced with pecans or almonds to vary texture and flavor.
To make the salad gluten-free, use gluten-free rotini pasta or spiralized vegetables instead of traditional pasta.
A squeeze of fresh lime juice can brighten the overall flavor even more.
This salad pairs wonderfully with crisp lettuce to make a delicious Waldorf-inspired chicken pasta salad wrap.