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4.77 from 13 votes

Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad

Inspired by the incredible Plates and Palates recipe, this Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad is the ultimate pasta salad side dish! Loaded with zesty lemon and herby tarragon, this salad is refreshing and filling. Perfect for meal prep, make a large batch and save it for lunches throughout the week!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 -10 serving
Calories: 608kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

Salad

  • 16 ounces bowtie pasta
  • 2 cups red grapes halved
  • 1 cup celery diced
  • ½ cup slivered almonds
  • 1 bunch green onions chopped
  • 2 cups cooked cubed chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 lemons juiced and zested about 4-5 tablespoons lemon zest and ⅓ to ½ cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh tarragon
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and immediately run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Combine pasta, grapes, celery, almonds, green onions, and chicken.
  • Blend dressing ingredients together in a blender for 30 seconds, then pour half of them over the pasta salad. Toss well to coat. Chill for 1-2 hours.
  • Just before serving, toss with remaining dressing.

Notes

  • If you want to bulk out this salad with even more vegetables, about 1 pound of roasted asparagus or roasted green beans would be good additions.

Nutrition

Calories: 608kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 2mg