Last Updated on January 11, 2024 by Kimberly Stroh
During the summer, I love making pasta salads for so many occasions. You can make a big batch and eat it throughout the week for lunch or take it to a party. My favorite of all I’ve tried, is this Cold Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad that can’t be any easier to make. It’s full of flavor with fresh basil, parmesan, red onion, peas and cherry tomatoes. Plus, it’s super creamy thanks to the mayonnaise dressing. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.

I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve made this Chicken Pasta Salad for big gatherings. I take it to BBQ’s, church potlucks and make it for baby or bridal Showers. It’s one of my go-to recipes because of the simplicity to make it. Using a rotisserie chicken really cuts down on the time in the kitchen. So all you have to do is throw it into a bowl, mix and refrigerate. It’s the perfect recipe to make ahead of time too.
What makes the recipe most unique is that you’re mixing the salad while the pasta is still hot. That helps the pasta absorb and soak up the dressing, so it’s not swimming in too much of it. You don’t have to wait for the pasta to cool like you do for normal pasta salad recipes.
I love my Taco Pasta Salad and Summertime Macaroni Salad recipes, but this Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad is the one that I sneak bites of out of the fridge for a snack. You can’t help but to love the flavors.
How To Make Cold Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad
If you have a large mixing bowl, then you basically have everything you need to make this recipe! There’s no need for any fancy kitchen tools. The best part is the fact that you don’t even need to heat your oven either. Since you’re purchasing a rotisserie chicken, you’ll save yourself from heating up the kitchen (which is a big bonus during the summer months).

What To Serve With Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad
Pasta Salads are kind of a hybrid food. They can be served as a main meal, for a delicious lunch or you can make it as a side dish. I can make this recipe on the weekends and enjoy it for lunches every day during the week. Or I make it as a side dish for parties.
I love enjoying Chicken Pasta Salad with BBQ or Grilled Recipes. It’s like a quintessential summer side dish. Make some BBQ Chicken Breasts or some Oven-Baked BBQ Ribs for a winning combination.
Food Safety & Serving Tips For Parties
Whenever you serve a mayonnaise-base recipe, you need to keep it cold. You never want to make any dangerous food safety mistakes and get sick. I use a Serving Bowl Over Ice that keeps the salad cold the entire time you enjoy it. This is so important if you take it outdoors – like at a BBQ or Pool Party.
How To Store Leftover Chicken Pasta Salad
When you’ve finished the salad, if you have any leftovers, you want to transfer it to an airtight food storage container. Put the salad in the refrigerator. You can enjoy it for 3-4 days for best freshness. Toss the remaining salad after that.
Can You Freeze Chicken Pasta Salad?
Unfortunately, this Chicken Pasta Salad doesn’t freeze well. That’s partially due to the mayonnaise based dressing. Don’t bother freezing the salad. Instead, make a new batch to enjoy every time.
Recipe Substitutions You Can Make
There are several recipe substitutions you can make! You can change out the pasta for any shape you prefer. You could substitute the chicken for turkey (which is a great way to use leftover turkey). If you’re looking to cut calories and fat, you can use any mayonnaise substitute as well.
What You’ll Need From The Grocery Store:
- Rotisserie Chicken
- Shell Pasta
- Frozen Peas
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Fresh Basil
- Mayonnaise
- Chicken Broth
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (Shaker Version)
- Red Onion
Step-By-Step Directions To Make Cold Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad
Mix broth, mayonnaise, parmesan and basil in a large mixing bowl.

Toss in remaining ingredients and gently mix well.

Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Cold Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad

This Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad is full of flavor with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, peas and red onion. Serve it as a main course or as a heavy side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 Cup Chicken Broth
- 3/4 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil (Chopped)
- 3 Cups HOT Pasta (Just Cooked)
- 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes (Halved)
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas (Cooked)
- 2 Cups Rotisserie Chicken (About 1 Whole, Chopped)
- 1 Small Red Onion (Finely Chopped)
Instructions
1- Mix broth, mayonnaise, cheese and basil in a large bowl.
2- Toss in remaining ingredients and mix well.
3- Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Notes
Serve the salad over ice and refrigerate any leftovers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 272mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 10g
**Nutrition is calculated by a third party. Actual values may vary.