Description
Chicken Club Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavorful, and filling dish perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Featuring smoked turkey bacon, smoked turkey, creamy plant-based cheese, and fresh crisp vegetables tossed with a smooth, natural mayonnaise-based dressing enhanced with apple cider vinegar, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Quick to prepare and colorful, this salad delivers a satisfying combination of smoky, creamy, and crunchy textures and is ideal for meal prep, potlucks, or casual meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 2 cups cooked pasta (fusilli or rotini)
Smoked Meats
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
- 1 cup smoked turkey, sliced
Cheese and Vegetables
- 1 cup plant-based cheese, cubed
- 1 cup fresh lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup cucumbers, chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup natural mayonnaise (plant-based)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/2 tsp natural gelling agent
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add your chosen pasta. Cook until al dente according to package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta for salad preparation.
- Prepare the Meats: In a skillet, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Slice the smoked turkey into thin strips or small cubes based on preference.
- Chop Vegetables and Cheese: Wash and chop fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. Cube the plant-based cheese evenly for balanced bites in the salad.
- Make the Dressing: Whisk together natural mayonnaise (plant-based), apple cider vinegar (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), natural gelling agent, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Everything: In a large mixing bowl, toss the pasta with smoked turkey bacon, smoked turkey, fresh vegetables, plant-based cheese, and the creamy dressing. Stir gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta to prevent mushiness.
- Refrigerate the salad before serving to enhance flavor integration and keep ingredients fresh.
- Chop ingredients into similar sizes for an elegant look and ease of eating.
- Adjust the amount of natural gelling agent to achieve the desired creamy consistency without heaviness.
- Taste and tweak dressing seasoning before mixing with other ingredients for ideal flavor balance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Chicken club pasta salad, smoked turkey pasta salad, plant-based cheese salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, healthy pasta salad