Fresh pasta salad with bacon, chicken, lettuce, and tomatoes in a creamy dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta & Proteins
01 - 8 oz medium pasta shells
02 - 2 cups cooked grilled chicken breast, diced
03 - 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 ½ cups romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - ½ cup red onion, finely diced
→ Dressing
07 - ⅓ cup light mayonnaise
08 - 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
09 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - ½ tsp garlic powder
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Cook pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together light mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, diced grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and diced red onion. Toss ingredients gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
05 - Serve immediately for best texture, or refrigerate for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld. If chilling, wait to add dressing until just before serving to maintain crispness.
