Can I make this pasta salad ahead?

Yes. It is a good make-ahead salad and tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge.

Can I swap the chicken for something else?

Yes. Turkey, tuna, or extra chickpeas all work if you want a different protein.

How long does it keep?

Stored covered in the fridge, it keeps well for up to 3 days. Toss before serving and refresh with a little oil or vinegar if needed.

Chicken Chickpea Bow-Tie Pasta Salad

Name: Chicken Chickpea Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 227 g bow-tie pasta (whole-grain if preferred); 510 g chicken breast (cooked and shredded); 130 g chickpeas (drained and rinsed); 64 g black olives (sliced); 120 g celery (chopped); 300 g cucumber (chopped); 60 g carrot (shredded); 80 g onion (yellow, finely chopped); 15 g parmesan cheese (finely shredded); 45 g olive oil (extra virgin); 60 g red wine vinegar; 2 g Worcestershire sauce; 2 g mustard (spicy brown); 1.5 g garlic (minced); 8 g parsley (fresh, chopped); 3 g basil (fresh, chopped); 0.5 g black pepper (freshly ground)

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Servings

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Chicken Chickpea Bow-Tie Pasta Salad

This bow-tie pasta salad with chicken and chickpeas is built more like a proper lunch than a token side dish. The pasta gives it body, the chicken and chickpeas make it filling, and the olives, herbs, and red wine vinaigrette keep the overall flavour bright enough for warm-weather meals or packed lunches.

It is the kind of pasta salad that works well when made ahead, which makes it useful for meal prep, picnics, or a fridge-ready lunch you can portion across a few days.

Why This Recipe Works

Using both chicken and chickpeas gives the salad a more substantial texture and helps it eat like a main dish rather than just a bowl of cold pasta. The vegetables add crunch, while parmesan and olives bring enough savoury depth to keep the vinaigrette from feeling thin.

The dressing is simple, but it has enough acid and seasoning to stand up to the pasta after chilling. That matters because cold pasta tends to absorb flavour as it sits.

How To Make It

Cook the bow-tie pasta until just al dente, then cool it before mixing so the vegetables stay crisp and the cheese does not melt into the bowl. Combine the pasta with the chicken, chickpeas, and chopped vegetables in a large bowl.

Whisk the vinaigrette separately, pour it over the salad, and toss thoroughly. Once chilled, give the pasta salad another toss before serving so the dressing is redistributed evenly.

Tips, Variations, and Storage

This salad keeps well in the fridge and is usually better after a few hours of rest. If it looks a little dry the next day, add a small splash of olive oil or red wine vinegar before serving.

You can vary the vegetables depending on what you have. Red peppers, cherry tomatoes, or chopped spinach all fit naturally into the same style of salad.

Serving & Goal Fit

One serving works well as a ready-to-go lunch or light dinner. On a training day, add fruit or bread on the side if you want more carbohydrate. On a rest day, serve it as written or bulk it out with extra cucumber, celery, or leafy greens.

If you want to switch the protein, turkey, tuna, or extra chickpeas all work well. For more vegetables, broccoli, peas, spinach, courgette, or green beans fit easily into the same meal-prep format.

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Servings

Plan This Recipe

Save this recipe to one of your meal plans or browse your existing plans.

Browse Meal Plans

Chicken Chickpea Bow-Tie Pasta Salad

It is the kind of pasta salad that works well when made ahead, which makes it useful for meal prep, picnics, or a fridge-ready lunch you can portion across a few days.

Why This Recipe Works

The dressing is simple, but it has enough acid and seasoning to stand up to the pasta after chilling. That matters because cold pasta tends to absorb flavour as it sits.

How To Make It

Whisk the vinaigrette separately, pour it over the salad, and toss thoroughly. Once chilled, give the pasta salad another toss before serving so the dressing is redistributed evenly.

Tips, Variations, and Storage

This salad keeps well in the fridge and is usually better after a few hours of rest. If it looks a little dry the next day, add a small splash of olive oil or red wine vinegar before serving.

You can vary the vegetables depending on what you have. Red peppers, cherry tomatoes, or chopped spinach all fit naturally into the same style of salad.

Serving & Goal Fit

If you want to switch the protein, turkey, tuna, or extra chickpeas all work well. For more vegetables, broccoli, peas, spinach, courgette, or green beans fit easily into the same meal-prep format.