Description
A delicious Chicken and Corn Pasta Salad with Bacon that combines tender chicken, sweet corn, and crispy bacon for a flavorful dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz orecchiette pasta or other short pasta
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup corn kernels (cooked)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 6 strips bacon (cooked and sliced)
- Fresh basil (chopped)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions. Drain.
- Generously season the chicken thighs with Italian seasoning, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat an empty cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and then add chicken thighs.
- Cook the chicken on medium heat for 5 minutes on one side, without moving it.
- Flip the chicken thighs over, reduce heat to low-medium, and cook for about 5 more minutes or longer on the other side, undisturbed, until it’s cooked through (165°F/74°C).
- Remove from heat and slice the chicken thinly.
- In a mason jar, whisk together basil pesto, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and freshly squeezed lime juice to make the salad dressing.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked and drained pasta, cooked corn kernels, diced bell pepper, and chopped cooked bacon. Mix to combine.
- Distribute into individual salad bowls. Top with sliced cooked chicken and salad dressing. Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil.
Notes
- For a lighter dressing, adjust the amount of Greek yogurt or lime juice.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like cherry tomatoes or cucumbers for extra crunch.
- This salad can be served warm or cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg