Description
Taziki’s Signature Pasta is a flavorful Greek chicken pasta salad combining tender grilled chicken, penne pasta, juicy tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese, tossed in a tangy and herbaceous balsamic-thyme dressing. This easy-to-make dish can be served warm or cold, making it perfect for a quick lunch, picnic, or light dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing
- 3 Tbsp fresh thyme
- 1 Tbsp shallot, minced
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- Juice from one lemon
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1½ cups olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Salad
- 1½ pounds penne pasta
- 6–8 boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled and cubed
- 3 cups feta cheese, crumbled
- 6 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1 handful fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Prepare the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set it aside to cool slightly.
- Make Dressing: In a blender, combine fresh thyme, minced shallot, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, and Dijon mustard. Pulse a few times to mix. While the blender is running on low speed, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to emulsify the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, grilled and cubed chicken breasts, crumbled feta cheese, diced roma tomatoes, and chopped fresh basil. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
- Serve: This salad can be served immediately while slightly warm or chilled for a cold pasta salad. Both options taste delicious and refreshing.
Notes
- Grill the chicken breasts ahead of time or use leftover grilled chicken for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of dressing to taste if you prefer your pasta salad more or less saucy.
- For extra crunch, add sliced cucumbers or red onions.
- This salad keeps well refrigerated for up to 2 days; the flavors meld beautifully overnight.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
