HomeSide DishesChipotle Chicken Pasta Salad

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad is full of chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, and Rotel tomatoes all tossed in a creamy, smoky dressing.

  • Prep15 min
  • Total1 hr 15 min
  • Serves10
  • Rating5.0
Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad is full of chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, and Rotel tomatoes all tossed in a creamy, smoky dressing. There’s tons of southwestern flavors in this pasta salad. Makes a great summer potluck side or light meal.

Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad in serving bowl.

I love the flavor of chipotle peppers. They are fabulously smoky and have some heat, but not too much. If you use just 2 chipotle peppers, this pasta salad will have just a little kick. Use 3 or even 4 if you want it spicier. A little lime juice perks up all the flavors.

A combination of sour cream and mayonnaise forms the base for the chipotle dressing and makes it ultra creamy. You can use all mayo if you like or a combination of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt.

Pasta Salad in a large red mixing bowl.
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(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)

  1. Make the dressing. Stir all dressing ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix dressing with pasta. Pour dressing over pasta and mix together.
  3. Add remaining ingredients. Season the taste with salt and pepper.
  4. Refrigerate. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
  5. Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe Tips

    Leave the chicken out if you want it to be vegetarian.

    Any type of pasta shape can be used. Elbows, shells, farfalle, cavatappi, and penne all work well.

    The add-ins for this recipe are adaptable. I like red onion, black beans, corn, cilantro, avocado, and Rotel tomatoes. Leave any out that you don’t like. Some shredded Mexican cheese or Cotija cheese are also delicious. You can also add some chopped bell pepper or olives. Use fresh tomatoes and a can of diced green chiles instead of Rotel tomatoes.

    Make In Advance

    Make it at least 1 hour before serving it so the flavors have tie to blend. You can make it a day in advance, but I recommend adding the avocado last minute so it doesn’t turn brown.

    How To Serve

    This pasta salad goes great with burgers, bbq, grilled chicken, tacos, quesadillas, you name it.

    Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad with bunch of cilantro.

    More Pasta Salad Recipes To Try

    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

    Originally published June 18, 2021.

Ingredients

Chipotle Dressing

Remaining Ingredients

Steps

  1. 1

    Stir all dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.

  2. 2

    Place cooked pasta in a large bowl. Pour dressing over pasta and stir to coat the pasta.

  3. 3

    Stir in remaining ingredients. Check for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.

  4. 4

    Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Notes

Any type of pasta shape can be used. Good choices are rotini, cavatappi, elbow, shell, wagon wheel, and farfalle.

Nutrition

  • Calories425
  • Carbs47
  • Protein18
  • Fat19
  • Sodium206
  • Fiber7
  • Sugar4