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This chipotle chicken pasta salad has all the right moves; smoky, creamy, and just the right amount of kick. The chipotle dressing clings to every swirl of pasta, with tender chicken, crunchy celery, and chewy sun-dried tomatoes to round it out. Tangy and fresh, it’s a far cry from the usual mayo-heavy version.

Here’s Why This Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe Works
Big chipotle flavor, no extra effort. Chipotle aioli adds smoky heat in one easy spoonful. Store-bought or homemade, either works.
Texture in every bite. Tender chicken, crisp celery, chewy sun-dried tomatoes, and curly pasta make it satisfying from start to finish.
Rotisserie chicken friendly. Skip the cooking. Just shred, toss, and you’re done.
Creamy but balanced. Sour cream and a splash of vinegar keep the dressing rich without feeling heavy.

Recipe Tips
Drain the tomatoes. Pat or press out any excess oil from the sun-dried tomatoes so the salad stays creamy, not slick.
Keep everything bite-sized. Uniform pieces mean better texture, balanced bites, and easier scooping.
Use pasta with grip. Shapes like rotini, fusilli, or trottole hold onto the dressing best.
Season lightly at first. Chill time softens the flavors, so taste again and adjust just before serving.
Let it chill. This salad needs time in the fridge for the flavors to blend. Give it at least 30 minutes.
Dress it twice if needed. If the pasta absorbs too much while chilling, stir in a spoonful of dressing right before serving to bring it back to life.
Keep it cool. If you’re bringing it to a cookout, pack it in a chilled container or set the bowl over ice to keep the dressing safe and creamy.

This spicy chicken pasta salad is hearty enough to stand alone, but it also plays well with a variety of mains and sides. Serve it with BBQ chicken legs and corn on the cob.
Love pasta salads? My lemon orzo salad is another easy make-ahead option. It’s tangy, fresh, and great for picnics.

Chicken Pasta Salad with Chipotle Sauce
This chipotle chicken pasta salad checks every box for flavor, texture, and ease. It’s smoky, creamy, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting, all without extra work. Serve it cold for picnics or potlucks, or pack it up for easy weekday lunches. Either way, it’s proof that pasta salad doesn’t have to be boring.

If you can’t get enough of that smoky chipotle flavor, try my raspberry chipotle sauce or chipotle pork chops next.
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Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, chopped or shredded, 2½ cups
- ½ red onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- ¼ cup fresh chopped chives
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
- ½ cup chipotle aioli , homemade or storebought
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, or honey
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Add the pasta to a large pan of boiling, salted water and cook according to the package instructions. Place in a large salad bowl.
- Add the shredded or chopped chicken to the bowl. Toss in the red onion, celery, chives, and cilantro.
- Place the sun dried tomatoes a strainer and drain the oil. Empty the tomatoes onto a triple layer of paper towels, fold the towel over the top and press down to release the rest of the oil. Rough chop the tomatoes and add to the salad bowl.
- In a small dish, mix the chipotle mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and vinegar together. Add the dressing to the salad and toss until well combined. add salt and pepper to taste. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

This post was originally published on September 1, 2014.
Oh my, doesn’t that look delicious? I love spicy pasta salads and this one looks really good – thanks!
Hi, Donalyn….this is a great pasta salad and that chipotle is terrific in it. Thanks for the comments 🙂
Nice pasta salad…I like the chipotle dressing…it is sure packed with flavors.
Hope you are having a great week 😀
Thanks, Juliana! Yes, this salad has lots of flavor… 🙂
Spur-of-the-moment outings are always the best. And anything with chipotle is OK by me — I can’t get enough of its flavor. This is wonderful — thanks so much.
Thanks, John…and you are truly correct on that spur-of-the-moment outings comment….:)