Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
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Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad is a creamy summer pasta salad loaded with chicken, crispy bacon, tomatoes, green onions, and smoky chipotle dressing. It works perfectly as a cookout side dish, easy lunch, or cold pasta salad for meal prep.
This is one of those pasta salads that feels filling enough to serve as dinner but still works for BBQs, potlucks, and summer parties. The smoky chipotle flavor, creamy dressing, crispy bacon, and fresh tomatoes make every bite packed with flavor.
If you love easy summer pasta salads, this is the kind of recipe you’ll end up making on repeat during warm weather months.
Why You’ll Love This Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
- Creamy smoky chipotle dressing
- Loaded with chicken and bacon
- Great served cold or room temperature
- Perfect for meal prep and leftovers
- Easy summer pasta salad for cookouts and BBQs
- Filling enough for lunch or dinner
What Makes This Pasta Salad So Good
The smoky chipotle flavor pairs perfectly with crispy bacon and creamy dressing. The tomatoes and green onions help balance the richness while the pasta makes it hearty enough for a full meal.
Unlike lighter vinaigrette pasta salads, this version is creamy, savory, and packed with bold flavor. It also tastes even better after chilling because the dressing soaks into the pasta as it sits.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken breasts: Boneless chicken breasts make this pasta salad filling and easy to prep ahead.
- Chipotle seasoning: Adds smoky heat and flavor to both the chicken and dressing.
- Sour cream: Helps create the creamy dressing base.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps coat the pasta evenly.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon adds crunch and smoky flavor.
- Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes add freshness and color.
- Olive oil: Helps the chicken bake evenly.
- Garlic: Adds flavor to the dressing.
- Pasta: Short pasta shapes work best because they hold the dressing well.
- Green onions: Adds freshness and a little bite.
How To Make Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
Cook the Pasta
- Boil the pasta according to package directions.
- Drain and allow the pasta to cool.
Bake the Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Add olive oil to a baking dish.
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with half of the chipotle seasoning.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Allow the chicken to cool before cutting it into cubes.
Cook the Bacon
- Cook the bacon until crispy.
- Drain excess grease and chop into bite-sized pieces.
Make the Dressing
- In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, and remaining chipotle seasoning.
Assemble the Pasta Salad
- Add the cooked pasta, cubed chicken, bacon, and tomatoes to the dressing.
- Stir until fully coated.
- Top with chopped green onions before serving.
Tips for the Best Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
- Let the pasta cool before mixing so the dressing stays creamy.
- Cook the bacon until crispy so it keeps texture in the salad.
- Chill the pasta salad before serving for even more flavor.
- Use short pasta shapes that hold dressing well.
- You can grill the chicken instead of baking for extra smoky flavor.
How To Store Pasta Salad
- Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- If the pasta absorbs too much dressing after chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayo or sour cream before serving.
Can You Make This Ahead?
- Yes. This pasta salad works great for meal prep and actually tastes better after chilling for a few hours.
- You can make it the night before serving and keep it refrigerated until ready to eat.
Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 8×8 baking dish
- 1 digital thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lbs chicken breasts
- 3 tsp Chipotle seasoning (divided)
- 12 ounces pasta (cooked and drained)
- 1 lbs bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 cup tomatoes
- 1/8 cup green onions (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to an 8×8 baking dish and spread it around the bottom of the dish.
- Place the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons of chipotle seasoning over both sides of the chicken. Make sure the seasoning is spread evenly.
- Bake the chicken for about 20 minutes, or until the thickest part reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. Once it is cool enough to handle, cut it into 1-inch cubes.
- While the chicken is cooking, boil the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and let it cool before adding it to the salad.
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then chop it into small pieces.
- In a large serving bowl, add the mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of chipotle seasoning.
- Stir the dressing until it is smooth and fully combined.
- Add the cooled pasta, diced chicken, chopped bacon, and tomatoes to the bowl with the dressing.
- Stir everything together until the pasta, chicken, bacon, and tomatoes are evenly coated
- Sprinkle the chopped green onions over the top.
- Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use short pasta shapes like rotini, penne, shells, or bowties so the dressing coats the pasta well.
- Let the pasta cool before mixing it with the dressing. Hot pasta can make the dressing thin.
- For the best flavor, chill the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving.
- If the pasta salad thickens after chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayo or sour cream before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Chipotle Chicken Bacon Pasta Salad is a creamy summer pasta salad with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, green onions, and smoky chipotle dressing.
Short pasta shapes work best because they hold the creamy dressing better. Rotini, penne, bowties, shells, or elbows are all good options. Avoid long noodles because they are harder to mix and serve in a pasta salad.
Grilled chicken works really well in this recipe. It adds even more smoky flavor and makes the pasta salad especially good for summer cookouts. Just make sure the chicken reaches 165°F before dicing it.
Use your favorite gluten-free short pasta if you need this recipe to be gluten-free. Just be careful not to overcook it, because gluten-free pasta can get soft faster than regular pasta.
You can make this dairy-free by using dairy-free sour cream in the dressing. The mayonnaise is usually dairy-free, but check the label to be safe.
This pasta salad has smoky chipotle flavor with mild heat. If you like more spice, add a little extra chipotle seasoning to the dressing. For a milder version, start with less seasoning and add more after tasting.
This is a great make-ahead pasta salad. You can make it a few hours ahead or the night before. If it thickens in the fridge, stir in a small spoonful of mayo or sour cream before serving.
