Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad
This easy Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad combines Jamaican jerk-seasoned chicken with rotini pasta, colorful vegetables, baby spinach, and Italian salad dressing. The chicken is finished with honey for a flavorful sweet and savory glaze, making this a quick Caribbean-inspired salad for summer meals and potlucks.
Ingredients
- 3/4 lb pasta cooked in salted water
- 1 lb chicken breast skinless, boneless
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons jerk marinade
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 1 cup bell peppers diced
- 8-10 cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/3 lb baby spinach
- 3/4 cup Feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil, then cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions.
- Coat the chicken pieces with the salt, jerk marinade, and olive oil. Cook in a dry frying pan over medium-low heat.
- Cook on one side for 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked. As the chicken cooks, the scent of the jerk seasoning fills the air with the rich aromas of allspice, thyme, cinnamon, and Scotch bonnet, bringing a distinctly Caribbean character to the kitchen. Set the chicken aside to cool.
- Once the chicken has cooled slightly, chop it into small pieces. You can control the size of the pieces to suit your preference.
- Return the chicken to the same frying pan with the accumulated juices. Add the honey and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is fully coated with the honey.
- In a bowl, combine the Italian salad dressing, Dijon mustard, black pepper, and crushed garlic. Whisk until combined.
- Place the drained pasta in a large bowl while it is still steaming. Add the diced red onion, diced bell peppers, and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Pour in the salad dressing, then add the chicken pieces followed by the baby spinach.
- Mix well to combine the flavors and textures. Top with crumbled feta or your fav cheese.
- Chill and serve. If you've made this recipe, I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
Video
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different jerk marinade for Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad? Yes. You can use my Honey Jerk Marinade, Classic Jamaican Jerk Marinade (hot), Mild Jerk Marinade, or Jamaican Dry Rub as alternatives to the store-bought jerk marinade used in this recipe. What can I use instead of store-bought Italian salad dressing? The recipe uses store-bought Italian salad dressing to keep preparation quick and simple. If you prefer, you can use a homemade Italian-style dressing, although the original recipe is designed around the convenience of the store-bought version. Can I use different vegetables in Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad? The recipe calls for red onion, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach. You can use different bell pepper colors to make the salad more visually appealing while keeping the original recipe's recommended vegetables. Why do you add honey to the jerk chicken? The honey creates a sweet glaze on the cooked jerk chicken. It provides a pleasant contrast to the bold seasoning from the jerk marinade and adds another layer of flavor to the finished salad. Is Jerk Chicken Pasta Salad good for a potluck? Yes. This recipe was designed to be quick and simple, and the finished salad is chilled before serving, making it well suited to summer gatherings and potlucks. Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!