High Protein Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad
This High Protein Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad is packed with fresh ingredients, crispy bacon, juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and a tangy lime yogurt dressing. It’s perfect for meal prep, summer lunches, potlucks, or an easy high-protein dinner that feels satisfying…
This High Protein Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad is packed with fresh ingredients, crispy bacon, juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and a tangy lime yogurt dressing. It’s perfect for meal prep, summer lunches, potlucks, or an easy high-protein dinner that feels satisfying without being heavy.
Why This Recipe Rocks
Loaded with Flavor-Every bite combines smoky bacon, seasoned chicken, creamy feta, fresh vegetables, and a bright lime dressing for the perfect balance of savory and fresh.
Great for Meal Prep-This pasta salad stores well in the fridge, making it a fantastic option for lunches throughout the week.
High in Protein-Chicken, bacon, feta, and Greek yogurt help add protein to keep you fuller for longer.
Easy to Customize– Add extra vegetables, swap the feta for mozzarella, or use your favorite pasta shape to make it your own.
Ingredients You’ll Need For This Pasta Salad
For The Salad
Pasta– Use your favorite short pasta shape such as fusilli, penne, rotini, or farfalle. The twists and ridges help hold onto the creamy lime dressing, giving you more flavor in every bite.
Chicken Breasts– Chicken breast keeps this pasta salad lean and protein-packed. Seasoning it with paprika, salt, and black pepper adds plenty of flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
Bacon– Crispy bacon adds a smoky, savory element that balances the freshness of the vegetables and the tanginess of the dressing. Cook it until crisp for the best texture.
Lettuce– Lettuce adds freshness and crunch to the salad. Romaine works particularly well because it stays crisp even after being tossed with the dressing.
Red Onion– Red onion provides a mild sharpness and a pop of color. Finely dicing it ensures you get flavor throughout the salad without overwhelming each bite.
Cherry Tomatoes– Cherry tomatoes add sweetness, juiciness, and freshness. Their natural acidity complements the creamy dressing beautifully.
Feta Cheese– Feta brings a creamy, salty flavor that pairs perfectly with the chicken and bacon. Crumble it yourself for the freshest texture and taste.
Avocado– Avocado adds richness and creaminess while contributing healthy fats. Choose a ripe avocado that yields slightly when gently squeezed.
Paprika– Paprika gives the chicken a warm, smoky flavor and a beautiful golden color. Regular or smoked paprika both work well in this recipe.
Black Pepper– Black pepper adds a gentle heat that enhances the flavors of the chicken and dressing without making the salad spicy.
Salt– Salt helps bring all the flavors together. Adjust the amount to your taste, especially since the bacon and feta already contribute some saltiness.
Dressing Ingredient Notes
Plain Yogurt- Plain yogurt creates a creamy dressing that’s lighter than mayonnaise while adding a slight tang. Greek yogurt is a great option if you’d like a thicker dressing and extra protein.
Fresh Parsley or Cilantro- Fresh herbs add a burst of freshness and color to the salad. Parsley provides a clean, mild flavor, while cilantro adds a bright citrusy note that pairs especially well with the lime dressing.
Lime Juice- Fresh lime juice brightens the entire salad and balances the richness of the bacon, avocado, and feta cheese.
Lime Zest- Lime zest adds concentrated citrus flavor that makes the dressing taste fresh and vibrant. Don’t skip it if possible.
Garlic Powder- Garlic powder provides savory depth and blends smoothly into the dressing without the sharpness of fresh garlic.
Black Pepper- A little black pepper adds warmth and complements the tangy lime flavor in the dressing.
Salt- Salt enhances the overall flavor of the dressing and helps balance the acidity from the lime juice. Adjust according to your preference.
How to Make Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad
1. Cook the Bacon First
Place the bacon in a large pan over medium heat and cook until crispy and golden. Once done, remove the bacon and set it aside on a paper towel to drain. Leave about 1–2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan for cooking the chicken (pour out the excess if there’s too much).
2. Cook the Chicken in Bacon Fat
Season the chicken breasts with paprika, salt, and black pepper. In the same pan with the reserved bacon fat, cook the chicken over medium heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, or until fully cooked through and golden on the outside. The bacon fat adds deep, smoky flavor to the chicken. Once cooked, remove and let it rest before slicing.
3. Prepare the Dressing
In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt,chopped parsley or cilantro, fresh lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Optional (for extra smooth dressing): Add everything to a blender and blend until silky and fully emulsified. This gives a more restaurant-style, pourable dressing.
4. Assemble the Salad
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped lettuce, red onion, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, avocado, sliced chicken, and crispy bacon.
5. Dress and Toss
Pour the lime yogurt dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is well coated. Don’t overmix to keep the avocado intact.
6. Serve or Chill
Serve immediately for maximum freshness, or chill for 20–30 minutes to let the flavors come together even more.
Macros & Nutrition Breakdown Per Serving
Note: These macros are based on the exact ingredient amounts listed above and a serving size of about 1/6 of the recipe.
- Servings: 6
- Calories:520kcal
- Protein: 34g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fat: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
Meal Prep and Storage Tips
Storing the Salad: Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It keeps well overall, but the avocado is best when fresh.
Keeping Avocado Fresh: If you’re meal prepping ahead, either add the avocado just before serving or toss it in a little lime juice to slow browning.
Dressing Tip: For best texture, store the lime yogurt dressing separately and add it right before eating. This keeps the salad fresh and prevents the pasta and lettuce from becoming soggy.
Protein Storage: Cooked chicken and bacon can be stored separately in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. Use cold or reheat lightly before adding to the salad.
Pasta Tip: Since the pasta is already cooked, toss it with a small drizzle of olive oil before storing to prevent it from sticking together.
Best Assembly Method: For the freshest result, store everything separately and combine just before serving. At minimum, keep avocado, dressing, and lettuce separate until ready to eat.
Freezing: This recipe is not suitable for freezing due to the avocado, lettuce, and yogurt-based dressing.
More Recipes You’ll Love
High-Protein Cheeseburger Bowl
Viral Cottage Cheese Bowl with Ground Beef
High Protein Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad
This High Protein Chicken Avocado Pasta Salad is a fresh mix of tender chicken cooked in bacon fat, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, pasta, and crunchy veggies tossed in a zesty lime yogurt dressing.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pasta
- 2 chicken breasts
- 6 rashers bacon
- 1½ cups lettuce, chopped
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 medium avocado, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
For the Lime Yogurt Dressing
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- Juice and zest of 1 lime
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Cook the Bacon- Heat a large pan over medium heat and cook the bacon until crispy and golden. Remove and set aside on paper towels. Leave about 1–2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
Cook the Chicken- Season chicken breasts with paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook in the same pan with the reserved bacon fat over medium heat for 5–7 minutes per side, until fully cooked and golden. Remove and let rest, then slice.
Prepare the Dressing- In a bowl, whisk together yogurt, lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley (or cilantro) until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste. Optional (for extra smooth dressing): Add everything to a blender and blend until silky and fully emulsified. This gives a more restaurant-style, pourable dressing.
Assemble the Salad- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, lettuce, red onion, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, avocado, sliced chicken, and chopped bacon.
Add Dressing & Toss- Pour the lime yogurt dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
Serve- Serve immediately for the freshest texture, or chill briefly before serving to let the flavors come together.
Notes
- Let the pasta cool completely before mixing to keep the lettuce crisp.
- Add the avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
- For extra protein, use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt.
- Store the dressing separately if making this salad more than a day in advance.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 520Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1023mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 34g
Nutrition information on That Protein Life is estimated using online calculators and may vary based on ingredients, brands, and preparation methods. For the most accurate results, use a food scale and trusted calculator. This information is for general guidance only, please consult a professional for specific dietary needs. That Protein Life is not responsible for any discrepancies or outcomes.
