Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

This Greek Chicken Pasta Salad features kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts tossed with penne in a tangy tzatziki-inspired dressing.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Greek

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 475kcal

Author Amee

Ingredients

6 oz plain Greek yogurt I recommend full-fat for best creamy texture and taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
3 garlic cloves can use 1-2 cloves if you prefer a more mild garlic flavor
16 oz uncooked penne pasta I like to use Dreamfield's lower-carb pasta
24 oz chicken breast cooked and chopped into bite-size pieces
1 cup pitted kalamata olives drained
2 cucumbers peeled, seeded and sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes sliced in half
14 oz artichoke hearts drained and chopped. Regular canned artichoke hearts or marinated for added flavor.
4 oz crumbled feta cheese I go for whole feta...more flavor and creamier

Instructions

Process first 7 ingredients in a food processor 30 seconds or until thoroughly blended. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill while you prepare the pasta.
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.
Place cooled pasta in a large bowl. Stir in chicken, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and artichokes until well blended.
Add yogurt mixture and stir until well coated. Top with crumbled feta cheese.
Cover and chill at least 1 hour, or until ready to serve. Toss well before serving and garnish with chopped fresh herbs (dill and/or parsley) and lemon slices, if desired.

Notes

To make grilled Greek Chicken - Grill chicken marinated in Greek dressing over medium-high heat until the internal temperature reaches 160F (4 to 5 minutes per side depending on thickness). Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Fresh lemon zest - Before squeezing the lemon, remove the zest. You can add it to the creamy dressing for a bolder citrus flavor or sprinkle a bit on top as a garnish.
Making ahead - Stir the salad together the night before, so all you have to do is give it a quick toss and add the chicken before serving.
Nutrition info is for using regular penne pasta. You can lower the carbs by using a lower carb pasta variety.

Nutrition