Chicken & Bacon Pasta Salad With Homemade Dressing

this is one of my family’s favorite salad recipes. i could personally eat it all week long! i’m always so disappointed when it’s gone.

it’s really easy to make and it’s great for putting together earlier in the day – the longer it sits in the fridge the day you’re going to eat it, the better it tastes. and it’s also the perfect thing to serve when you’re having guests over because it actually makes a decent amount of salad. we’ve served it as a side at barbecues, but it’s hearty enough to be eaten as dinner all on it’s own. serve with rolls, and you’re got an easy, made-ahead dinner for a busy weeknight.

here’s what you need:

hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

here’s the recipe:

chicken & bacon pasta salad / with homemade dressing

Ingredients

dressing:
½ cup mayo or miracle whip
⅓ cup water
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
1½ teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1½ teaspoons freeze dried chives
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
salad:
3 or 4 chicken breasts (rotisserie, baked, grilled – whatever your favorite way to eat chicken is)
1 (12oz) package rotini pasta
6 slices bacon, cooked
3 cups romaine lettuce, torn
1 large tomato, chopped (optional)

Instructions

mix dressing ingredients; set aside.
cook chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. cook pasta and drain with cold water. cook bacon and cut into pieces.
mix dressing with pasta and add remaining ingredients. toss to combine.