• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

RecipeTin Eats

Fast Prep, Big Flavours

Small book

My cookbook "Dinner" now available!

  • My RecipeTin
  • My cookbook!
  • Recipes
  • Recipes By Category
    • Christmas ⭐️
      • Starters
      • Mains
      • Sides: Warm & Hearty
      • Sides: Light & Fresh
      • Desserts
      • Breads
      • Christmas Leftovers
    • Iconic + cult classics
    • Mains
      • Chicken
        • Chicken mince
      • Beef Recipes
        • Ground Beef (Mince)
      • Pork
      • Lamb
      • Turkey
      • Shrimp / Prawns
      • Salmon
      • Fish recipes
      • Salad Meals
    • Quick and Easy
    • Soups
    • One Pot
    • Stews
    • Slow Cooker
    • Sides
      • All
      • Salads & veg
      • Show Off Salads
      • Rice (all)
      • Fried rice recipes
      • Rice (plain)
      • Potato
    • Pasta
      • All
      • Pasta bakes
      • Pasta salads
    • Sweet
      • Cakes
      • Candy
      • Cheesecakes
      • Cupcakes & Muffins
      • Cookies
      • Puddings & Cosy Desserts
      • Bite Size
      • Pies
      • Slices & Bars
      • Frosting & Icing
      • Ice cream
    • Cuisine
      • Asian
        • All
        • Stir fries
        • Noodles
        • Soups
        • Chinese
        • Japanese
        • Korean
        • Thai
        • Vietnamese
      • French
      • Greek
      • Indian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
      • Middle Eastern
      • South American
    • Dietary
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Calorie
      • Vegetarian
    • Other Categories
      • BBQ
      • Breakfast
      • Burgers
      • Cocktails
      • Party Foods
      • Rice Recipes
      • Roasts
      • Sandwiches & Sliders
    • Cookbook recipes
  • Collections
  • About
    • Me
    • RecipeTin Meals
    • Free Recipe Books
    • Contact
    • Nitty Gritty
      • Policy: Use of Recipes & Images
      • Privacy & Disclosure
Home Pasta and Rice Salads

Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

By:Nagi
Published:13 Jun '18Updated:5 Feb '23
107 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

The star of this big, juicy Pasta Salad is the dressing – it’s made using the flavour infused oil from the Sun Dried Tomatoes. Never throw away free flavour – especially when it’s this good! Quick to make and a big crowd pleaser, this can be as diverse as you want it to be!

Close up of Pasta Salad with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato

According to Google, there are 433 million results when you’re searching for a Pasta Salad.

So what makes this one different?

A MUST-TRY PASTA SALAD DRESSING

It’s the Dressing. 🙂 It’s a vinaigrette, and it’s made using the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. And it’s not only infused with sun dried tomato flavour, it’s got a bunch of other flavourings as well, all things we love – garlic, herbs, sugar, salad and pepper.

So I use the flavour infused oil from the jar as the base for the Pasta Salad Dressing, then add other usual suspects – vinegar, garlic, mustard – plus a healthy dose of dried herbs.

There will always be a place in my heart for creamy dressings like this Chicken Pasta Salad, but there’s no denying that I find pasta salads tossed with vinaigrettes more appealing. They’re just fresher and lighter, and it means I can enjoy them day after day and not feel weighed down / guilty about excess mayo consumption.

Preparation steps for Sun Dried Tomato Dressing for Pasta Salad

WHAT INGREDIENTS GO IN A PASTA SALAD??

In this pasta salad, we’ve got cooked pasta, chicken, sun dried tomato, baby spinach, tomatoes and onion with a pasta salad dressing. But as with most pasta salad recipes, this is adaptable to what you’ve got on hand or whatever you want to put in it!

This is a particularly great pasta salad for taking somewhere or making ahead because it keeps exceptionally well.

I know you hear that often – that pasta salads keep well. But in this case, it really does – because it’s light on fresh veggies. Just tomatoes and baby spinach which does wilt once dressed but then seemingly becomes more integrated into the pasta salad, rather than being off-puttingly limp like when it’s in a normal salad.

I’m probably doing myself a major disservice here by saying that it’s light on fresh veggies, it doesn’t make it sound very summery, does it? 🙂

But actually, this is a terrific year round pasta salad because it’s lovely served warm too. Try it! – Nagi x

Overhead photo of Pasta Salad with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato in a white bowl with salad servers, ready to be served

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Close up of Pasta Salad with Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato

Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Chicken

Author: Nagi
5 from 39 votes
Servings5 - 6 people
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 246
Recipe video above. A big, juicy pasta salad! You'll absolutely adore the dressing - it's made using the flavoured oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes. I use rotisserie chicken here for convenience. Terrific served warm or at room temp. 

Ingredients

  • 375 g / 12 oz spiral pasta , or other pasta of choice
  • 220 g / 7 oz jar sun dried tomato strips in oil
  • 2 cups (packed) shredded cooked chicken
  • 250 g / 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved
  • 75 g / 2.5 oz baby spinach (2 big handfuls)
  • 1 small red onion, quartered and finely sliced
  • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (Note 1)
  • 100 g / 3 oz feta, crumbled

Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup / 85 ml oil from sun dried tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (Note 1)
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Drain oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes.
  • Measure out 1/3 cup of the oil, top with extra virgin olive oil if short. Reserve excess oil for another purpose.
  • Add remaining Dressing ingredients. Mix well.
  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water per packet directions.
  • Drain, then rinse briefly under cold water. Leave to cool.
  • Transfer into large bowl. Add spinach, chicken, tomato, onion, pour over Dressing.
  • Toss well, sprinkle with dried herbs, toss again.
  • Just before serving, sprinkle with crumbled feta. Best served at room temperature.

Make ahead PRO TIP (Note 2):

  • SCOOP OUT a mug of pasta cooking water just before draining. Add 3 tbsp water to Dressing, shake well. Use this Dressing per above, but reserve 3 tbsp to freshen up pasta salad on Day 2 onwards.
  • Freshen up pasta salad: Bring to room temp or briefly microwave (cold pasta = dry) to warm gently. Toss with Reserved Dressing then serve.

Recipe Notes:

1. I use store bought Mixed Herbs. Otherwise, my standard combination is equal parts thyme, oregano, parsley, basil, plus a pinch of rosemary (not too much of this), or adjust quantities of any of these based on what you have.
2. Storage - tastes even better the next day! 
PRO TIP to keep pasta salads juicy when making ahead (as they tend to dry out the next day) - increase volume of dressing by shaking it up with pasta cooking water. Starch in water emulsifies with fat in dressing = more dressing volume, same amount of flavour = can reserve some dressing = juicier pasta salad.
Also, cold pasta is drier. Let it come to room temp or even microwave briefly, the toss with reserved Dressing!
Can also place all ingredients in bowl, refrigerate, then toss together.
3. You could skip the chicken and add something else in it's place, such as: artichokes, asparagus, olives, char grilled peppers, avocado.
4. Serves 5 - 6 as a meal, 8 - 10 as a side. Nutrition is for 6 servings.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 602cal (30%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

He spends a lot of time peering out the window nowadays…. watching passer-byers, the birds that flit around in the trees, newspaper swirling in the wind on the driveway (especially fascinated by this…….)

* For those playing catch up, Dozer completely ruptured his ACL and had to undergo surgery. We’re 3 weeks into a 3 – 4 month recovery period. Challenging for this highly active dog ☹️

Dozer the golden retriever recovering after ACL surgery, peering out the window

Previous Post
Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
Next Post
Easy Homemade Pastrami (No Smoker)

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

Read More

Free Recipe eBooks

Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!

Related Posts

Italian risoni/ orzo salad with crispy salami bits

Risoni/Orzo Salad with Crispy Salami Bits

Bowls of Pesto pasta salad for lunch

Pesto pasta salad

This Israeli Couscous Salad is fabulously addictive! Tender, flavour infused beads of couscous tossed with spinach, tomato, cucumber, herbs and a fresh lemon dressing. Summer in a bowl! recipetineats.com

Pearl Couscous Salad

More Pasta and Rice Salads

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cooked this? Rate this recipe!




107 Comments

  1. Rani Walker says

    March 17, 2023 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    The recipe was delicious. I was a little confused to either use 12oz of cooked pasta or dry? I end up cooking half a box and then measuring out 12oz cooked pasta.

    Can you confirm if it should of been 12oz dry pasta?

    Reply
    • Michelle A Tanis says

      July 18, 2023 at 7:58 am

      Pretty sure it’s 12oz dry pasta. Recipes usually indicate with “cooked” after the amount, (Ex. 12 oz cooked pasta”) if it needs to be cooked and then weighed.

      Reply
  2. a says

    February 27, 2023 at 4:59 pm

    5 stars
    Incredible! Restaurant-quality salad. I made some substitutions based on availability: sundried tomato paste instead of whole dried tomatoes (used a few heaping tablespoons and added some plain olive oil) and apple cider vinegar in place of the white wine vinegar. It’s also delicious without the feta (pricey where I am).

    Reply
  3. Kay says

    April 16, 2022 at 2:21 pm

    I really liked the flavors of this salad. I added 2 cloves of garlic, left out the chicken and used fresh lemon juice

    Reply
  4. Michelle says

    December 6, 2021 at 3:53 am

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. Made this a few times now.

    Reply
  5. Doris Hoang says

    September 27, 2021 at 12:29 am

    Hi Nagi,
    This sounds perfect for lunch! Just wondering how long you think the pasta will keep for?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Babsy says

    July 24, 2021 at 9:24 pm

    Hi Nagi, Quick question, is the pasta weight cooked or uncooked?

    Reply
  7. Vi says

    June 24, 2021 at 11:12 pm

    Has anyone tried making this with rocket instead of spinach?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      June 25, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      It will be amazing Vi! Enjoy! N x

      Reply
      • Vi says

        June 27, 2021 at 12:11 pm

        5 stars
        It was sooo good. I also doubled the Feta though…

        Reply
  8. Sue says

    April 21, 2021 at 11:35 am

    Love this recipe however, my husband is allergic to fresh garlic, what would be a good substitute?

    Reply
  9. Valerie says

    March 8, 2021 at 8:30 am

    5 stars
    Made this recipe per directions and it was a hit! I took it to a cookout and they gobbled it up! My husband doesn’t like pasta salad but loved this one. My son said I HAVE to make it again. I think it’ll be going in his school lunch this week! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
  10. Maxine says

    February 15, 2021 at 1:57 am

    This was sooooo delicious. It will definitely be a regular at our table. We have made so many of your recipes while we have the time during lockdown & every one of them have been fabulous, thank you so much for sharing them.

    Reply
  11. Annette Brooks says

    December 24, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    5 stars
    Made this for Christmas Day. My taste tester loves it. Thank you for sharing your recipies.

    Reply
  12. Nicole Newman says

    December 22, 2020 at 4:24 am

    5 stars
    I love this pasta salad! I poach my chicken first and then shred it. I also throw in olives but that’s because I love them. I make this at least twice a month for my lunches during the week.

    Reply
  13. Chloe says

    August 14, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    5 stars
    This was absolutely delicious! So easy to make, and it was also my first time poaching chicken.

    Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any sun dried tomato strips, so I used pesto sun dried tomato instead, but it still tasted delicious!

    Thank you for this awesome recipe. I love that you can eat this at room temperature. Hence why I will be cooking this to take with me for lunch when I go out.

    Reply
  14. Karissa says

    August 8, 2020 at 4:20 am

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi,

    My sister and I are basically the family cooks now a days, and this recipe is a huge hit in our household! We made it once to rave reviews and it has been a weekly staple ever since. There are FODMAP sensitivities in our house, so we use green onion and asafetida as red onion and garlic substitutions and it is still very good.

    Reply
  15. Casey K says

    July 28, 2020 at 2:58 am

    5 stars
    This is wonderful! I did not have white wine vinegar, so I used the lightest of my red wine vinegars and I chopped the baby spinach, as I knew I would be eating it over a few days. The tips for keeping the salad fresh and not dry for leftovers were spot on. Thank you for another winner!

    Reply
  16. Nora says

    July 27, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    Hi Nagi! I made this Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes today and it tasted PHENOMENAL! And i cant believe how easy it was to make such a delicious dressing! So much better than store-bought ones! This recipe is a keeper! And I’m definitely trying out the other recipes on this blog to save myself from weekday dinner madness! Ur a life saver! Lots of love from Singapore 🙂

    Reply
  17. Barbara Spencer says

    July 8, 2020 at 11:49 pm

    I made your sun-dried tomato/chicken salad for an after bike club ride (Ontario Canada) individual picnic yesterday. We are having these now as safe, distanced get togethers due to covid-19 and your dinner salads are so wonderful. We can’t have our usual restaurant lunches or pot lucks at members’ houses so we bring our own and sit in a big, big circle outside. Your dinner salad recipes are tasty and lightly filling for this. Thank you for making life easier and tastier during these difficult times.

    Reply
  18. Michelle says

    July 8, 2020 at 9:37 am

    I love all your recipes. Was thinking of making this one but it’s not clear to me what happens with the sun dried tomatoes themselves? Are you only using oil? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      July 8, 2020 at 9:45 am

      Whoops!
      Sorry. Just read again and see that they are used! Will make the recipe soon!

      Reply
  19. Gill Gray says

    July 7, 2020 at 1:07 am

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe, and one I will put into my salad file, for sure. So sorry to read about Dozer. Please give him an extra special hug from his major fan in Canada.

    Reply
  20. Cindy says

    June 6, 2020 at 4:20 am

    This was really good! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

Free Recipe eBooks

Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks!

Meet Dozer

Official taste tester of RecipeTin Eats! Meet Dozer
As Featured On
  • Goodfood
  • Food Network
  • Better Homes Gardens
  • Taste
  • Nine
  • Network 10
  • BuzzFeed
  • Daily Telegraph
  • Women's Day

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe to my newsletter and receive 3 FREE ebooks!

Subscribe
Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • By Category
  • Collections
About
  • About Nagi
  • About Dozer
  • RecipeTin Meals
Related
  • RecipeTin Japan
  • Food Bloggers Central
Help
  • Contact
  • Image Use Policy
© RecipeTin Eats 2023
  • Privacy Policy & Terms
Site Credits
Maintained by Zao Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
All Rights Reserved

Subscribe to my newsletter

Sign up and receive 3 FREE EBOOKS!