I kind of have an addiction to pasta salad (well any pasta really if we are being honest here) and this Balsamic Chicken Pasta Salad is one of the best ones I have ever made. I love balsamic vinegar and the combination of it with the bacon, chicken, tomatoes and onion was just amazing. It is really fresh and bright and felt lighter than a lot of other recipes I have tried in the past.

While this is really great for a summer barbecue side dish, I still really enjoy it in the winter as a meal served with a simple green salad. The chicken, bacon and veggies make it filling and satisfying.

I recommend making this the night before so that all the flavors can meld and come together. If you do this, I would wait until serving to mix in the gorgonzola and parmesan cheeses so that they don’t get soggy or mushy.
You have to give this a try! It is so yummy and perfect!

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Balsamic Chicken Pasta Salad

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken pasta salad

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups uncooked bowtie pasta
• 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 2 cups chopped tomatoes (I like grape tomatoes halved)
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; transfer to a large bowl. Add the chicken, tomatoes, onion, bacon and Gorgonzola cheese.
• In a small bowl, whisk the oil, basil, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.