Save Last summer, I was rummaging through my pantry looking for something quick to bring to a friend's pool party when I spotted a container of everything bagel seasoning tucked behind the baking supplies. That little jar sparked an idea: what if I took the flavors I loved from weekend bagel runs and turned them into a pasta salad? The first batch was honestly just an experiment, but when people came back for thirds, I knew I'd stumbled onto something special.
I made this for a chaotic Wednesday potluck at work where everyone was supposed to bring something but half the dishes never showed up. My salad sat on that bare table, and I watched people genuinely light up when they tried it. Someone asked if it was from a specific restaurant, and I realized that simple ingredients with the right seasoning can feel a lot fancier than they actually are.
Ingredients
- Short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli): 250 g (9 oz) works beautifully because the shapes catch the creamy dressing and hold it in every bite, unlike long pasta which can slip around.
- Cooked chicken breasts: 2 breasts, shredded or diced (about 300 g / 10 oz) provide the protein backbone; I've learned that slightly cooling the chicken before shredding makes it easier to work with.
- Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup halved brings brightness and a little burst of juice that keeps the salad from feeling too heavy.
- Cucumber: 1/2 cup diced adds that crisp, refreshing element that makes you want another forkful.
- Red onion: 1/4 cup finely diced cuts through the richness with a subtle sharpness that builds flavor.
- Celery: 1/2 cup thinly sliced gives you textural contrast and an underrated subtle sweetness when you get it fresh.
- Scallions: 1/4 cup thinly sliced scattered throughout adds a delicate onion note that doesn't overpower.
- Mayonnaise: 120 g (1/2 cup) forms the creamy base; don't skip quality mayo here because it's a main flavor driver.
- Plain Greek yogurt: 60 g (1/4 cup) lightens the dressing and adds tang that keeps everything from tasting one-dimensional.
- Lemon juice: 1 tbsp brightens the whole thing and keeps the salad from feeling flat.
- Dijon mustard: 2 tsp adds a subtle sophistication that ties the flavors together in a way you won't quite taste but will definitely feel.
- Everything bagel seasoning: 1 tbsp plus extra for garnish is your secret weapon here; I've found that toasting it lightly in a dry pan before adding it deepens the flavors.
- Salt and black pepper: to taste let you adjust the seasoning to your preference since different brands of everything bagel seasoning vary in saltiness.
- Feta or cream cheese cubes (optional): 50 g (1/4 cup) adds creamy pockets of flavor that make each bite interesting.
- Fresh dill (optional): 1 tbsp chopped brings an herbaceous note that feels fresh and intentional.
Instructions
- Cook the pasta until it's just right:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook your pasta according to package instructions, but aim for al dente—you want it to have a tiny bit of resistance when you bite it because it'll soften slightly as the salad sits in the dressing. Drain it and rinse it under cold water while stirring gently until it's completely cooled.
- Gather everything in one big bowl:
- Combine the cooled pasta with the chicken, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, celery, and scallions in your largest mixing bowl. Take a moment to make sure the chicken is evenly distributed so you don't end up with bites that are all dressing and pasta.
- Whisk your dressing until it's creamy:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and everything bagel seasoning until the mixture is completely smooth and the seasoning is evenly distributed. Taste it and adjust with salt and pepper—remember that the vegetables will add their own seasoning, so be gentle.
- Bring it all together:
- Pour your dressing over the pasta mixture and toss thoroughly, making sure every piece gets coated in that creamy, seasoned goodness. This is the moment when the salad transforms from a bunch of separate ingredients into something cohesive.
- Add the optional flourishes:
- If you're using feta or cream cheese, fold it in gently so the pieces stay intact and create creamy little surprises throughout. Stir in the fresh dill if you're using it.
- Let it rest in the cold:
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes—this time lets the flavors meld together and the pasta absorb the dressing, deepening everything. I usually make mine the morning of and it gets even better by lunch.
- Finish with a flourish:
- Just before serving, give the salad a gentle toss to redistribute any dressing that settled, then sprinkle a little extra everything bagel seasoning on top for garnish. It catches the light and reminds people what makes this salad special.
Save The first time someone brought this salad to a family dinner and my grandmother asked for the recipe, I knew it had crossed over from 'a thing I make' to 'something that matters to people.' There's something about sharing food that tastes good and doesn't make you feel heavy that turns a regular meal into a moment worth remembering.
The Magic of Everything Bagel Seasoning
Everything bagel seasoning feels like a shortcut, but it's actually teaching you something about layered flavor. That blend of sesame, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and sea salt creates a complexity that would take you forever to build from individual spices. I've watched this seasoning transform ordinary chicken salads, roasted vegetables, and scrambled eggs into versions that feel intentional and restaurant-quality. Once you understand how a well-built seasoning blend can carry a whole dish, you start reaching for it in unexpected places.
Make It Your Own
The beauty of this salad is that it's a framework, not a rule book. I've made it with rotisserie chicken when I'm in a hurry and homemade poached chicken when I have time. I've added avocado in the summer when they're perfect, swapped in bell peppers when someone doesn't love tomatoes, and even experimented with roasted chickpeas to make it vegetarian. The dressing stays constant and reliable while everything else can shift based on what you have and what you're craving. Once you make this a few times and feel how it comes together, you'll trust your instincts to play with it.
Storage and Serving Ideas
This salad gets better as it sits, which is exactly what you want for make-ahead meals. I've kept it refrigerated for up to three days, though the vegetables do soften slightly by day three. If you're packing it for a picnic, I'd suggest bringing any optional toppings separately and stirring them in right before serving so they stay crisp. It's equally good served on a bed of lettuce, tucked into a sandwich, or eaten straight from a bowl while standing at the kitchen counter because you can't wait for lunch to be official.
- Make it the day before for an even more meld-together flavor that only gets better.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving to brighten everything if it sits for more than a few hours.
- If it seems dry after sitting, whisk together a little more yogurt and mayo and fold it in gently.
Save This pasta salad has become my go-to when I need something that's both impressive and honest. It doesn't try to be more complicated than it is, and people love it every single time.
Recipe Questions
- → What pasta types work best for this salad?
Short pasta like rotini, penne, or fusilli hold the dressing well and add texture to the salad.
- → Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?
Yes, chilling it for at least 30 minutes allows the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.
- → How can I adjust the dressing for a lighter option?
Using all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise creates a lighter but still creamy dressing.
- → What are some good substitutions for the chicken?
Rotisserie chicken works well for convenience, or you can use cooked turkey or tofu for variation.
- → Is everything bagel seasoning essential?
It provides the signature savory and nutty flavor, but you can customize with your preferred seasoning blend.