Pasta salad meets chicken salad in this tantalizing sweet & savory Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad! Loaded with red grapes, sliced almonds and tasty chicken, this recipe is all about cookouts, potlucks and family get-togethers while still hitting the mark for the perfect lunch or light dinner!
Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad might just be the best recipe of the season! While the savory chicken and pasta keep everyone going back for more, it’s the sweet pops of grapes and the crunch of celery and almonds that entices them to dig in for another bite.
What is Waldorf Salad?
A simple salad of apples, celery, and a mayo/lemon juice dressing with the occasional handful of grapes and walnuts thrown in, a true Waldorf Salad is the classic sweet + crunch dish.
The first Waldorf Salad appeared well over 100 years ago as a part of a charity ball menu honoring St. Mary’s Hospital for Children. The soiree was held at the newly opened Waldorf Hotel, and the hotel has been serving them ever since.
Of course, like anything that’s truly good, everyone has their own version of the historic Waldorf. Some even include mandarin oranges and marshmallows. While this tasty pasta salad version here isn’t quite that daring, if Waldorf’s are your thing, you’re sure to love Apple Celery Cheese Salad and Tuna Salad with Apples & Celery.
Ingredients For Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- celery
- green onions
- red seedless grapes
- sliced almonds
- bowtie pasta
- real mayonnaise
- lemon juice
- coarse ground black pepper & parsley
How to Make this Pasta Salad
Chicken. Combine chicken, green onion and celery in large bowl.
Dressing. Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper and parsley in a large measuring cup to create the dressing. Pour over top of chicken and mix until evenly coated.
Grapes & Pasta. Fold in grapes, pasta and sliced almonds, making sure all ingredients are evenly distributed. Top with extra cracked pepper for a littel extra flair and serve!
More Tips for Making This Recipe
- For even more delicious flavor, toast the almonds before adding them to the salad or add a diced honeycrisp apple for a little sweet crunch.
- Always use real mayonnaise when making this recipe.
- Need a short cut? Use rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store!
What To Serve with Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad
Pasta Salads always have me thinking about outdoor dining! This salad is a perfect cookout side dish when Hawaiian Burgers and Sparkling Peach Lemonade are on the menu!
When a little light patio dining is in order, this chicken Waldorf salad is a perfect partner for Lemonade Refrigerator Pickles, Homestyle Deviled Eggs & a simple meat & cheese platter.
And along with outdoor dining, comes a relaxed pace, the joys of friends & neighbors, plenty of laughter. Savoring a little joie de vive is what it’s all about! This month as we move out of doors to patios, decks and backyards, I hope you embrace all that’s good.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
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Waldorf Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 oz bow tie pasta
- 1 C diced celery
- 3-4 green onions, chopped
- 2 C real mayonnaise, generous cups
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 C red seedless grapes, halved
- 1 C sliced almonds
Instructions
- Prepare chicken breasts by boiling in large pot of salted water. Drain. Let cool & chop or shred. (While chicken is cooling, prepare rest of ingredients.)
- Cook pasta to al dente. Don't over cook. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together chicken, celery and green onion.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper and parsley in a large measuring cup to create the dressing. Pour over top of chicken and mix until evenly coated.
- Fold in grapes, pasta and sliced almonds, making sure all ingredients are evenly distributed. Top with extra cracked pepper, if desired and serve!
I like getting your emails. The recipes are doable and look and taste so good.
I also appreciate the scriptures that you add….!!!
Hi, Teri! Thank you so much for being a part of the Southern Discourse community! You have no idea how much I appreciate you being here. It’s all of you who make it work!
This is exactly what I was looking for! I had tasted a salad from a local deli and have been searching for the recipe for it and finally found the closest to it. I don’t use the celery and onions and I substitute the almonds with pine nuts — delicious!
Hi, Maria! This makes me so happy! I am so glad you found and made this recipe.
Love your recipes. Thank you.
Hi, Lynda!
You are so very welcome! I love sharing them, and I am very grateful you are a part of Southern Discourse!
Have you ever added apple to this?
Hey,going to try this recipe! Can it be made the night before serving time?
Hi, Becky! You sure can, as long as you add the dressing right before serving.
This has to be the best chicken salad I have had. Thank you.
Hi, Toni! You are so very welcome! I am just tickled that you like it. Thank you!
Would it be ok to add dressing and then let it set overnight.
Hi, Janet! You can, but the pasta does soak up the dressing leaving the salad “looking” a bit dry instead of dressed. The flavor is still delicious though.
I made this for the first time and used lemon pepper rotisserie chicken. It is simply delicious!!