Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad
I am a self-proclaimed pasta salad enthusiast — and I give 100% of the credit to my mom. I grew up eating pasta salads all summer long, and I happen to think she is the absolute queen of them. This Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad is a copycat from Lunds & Byerlys (a Twin Cities grocery store staple), and it’s one I’ve been making for years. When I can make it myself, I do — and when I can’t, I pick some up from the store. It’s sweet and creamy from the poppyseed dressing, filling with both pasta and chicken, crunchy from the celery, and tart from the dried cherries. Just 7 ingredients and 25 minutes, and you’ve got a perfect potluck side, easy lunch, or light summer dinner.
Meet my morning ritual!
It’s a copycat of my absolute favorite pasta salad from Lunds & Byerlys — but homemade is even better, and it feeds a crowd for a fraction of the price.
It’s…
🍝 Sweet & savory: The dried cherries and poppyseed dressing create this unexpected flavor combo that just works — every single time.
🥗 Make-ahead friendly: It actually gets better as it sits, so you can make it hours (or even a day) ahead without thinking twice.
🍗 A full meal in one bowl: Pasta, chicken, and veggies all together — serve it over greens and dinner is done.
⏰ Ready in 25 minutes: Quick enough for a weeknight, easy enough to bring to a party.
🧊 Perfectly cold: No reheating, no stress — it’s meant to be served cold, which makes it ideal for hot summer nights.
👩👧 Easy to get kids involved: They can stir the dressing, dump in the ingredients, and mix it up — built-in kitchen helper recipe.
Pasta salads are kind of a whole thing around here. If you love this one, you’ll want to try the Mediterranean tortellini pasta salad next — it’s a reader favorite with tons of flavor. The chicken peanut pasta salad is another one worth having in your rotation for when you want something a little bolder.
I made this quick pasta salad with 2 packages Tofurky brand seitan, as I am a vegetarian, and it was a HUGE hit with my partner and my 2 kids (4 years, 21 months.) This pasta salad will be on regular summer rotation at our house for certain! –Catherine
Ingredient Notes
You’ll need some fresh ingredients and pantry staples to bring this chicken pasta salad with cherries to the picnic: gemelli pasta (or fusilli if that’s what you have), cooked and chopped chicken, dried cherries, celery, white onion, mayonnaise, and poppyseed dressing. That’s it. For the poppyseed dressing, Brianna’s is the brand I always reach for — it’s what makes this taste like the real thing.
Emily’s Tips & Tricks
- Pro tip: Let this chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. The pasta absorbs the dressing as it sits, so the flavor deepens considerably. If you can make it the night before, even better.
- Shortcuts: Use rotisserie chicken or sous vide shredded chicken to skip cooking the chicken from scratch — this is a great use of leftovers from earlier in the week.
- Variations: Swap the dried cherries for dried cranberries if that’s what you have on hand — slightly more tart, but still delicious.
Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American
Description
You’ll want to bring this Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad to all of your get-togethers, it’s a crowd-pleaser! Cherry Chicken Pasta Salad is a delicious mix of pasta, chicken, dried cherries, and a poppyseed dressing. It’s a perfect side dish, easy lunch, or summer dinner.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. gemelli pasta (or fusilli)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped celery (about 6 stalks)
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion (about 1/2 onion)
- 2 cups chopped leftover chicken (about 4 thighs)
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup poppyseed dressing
- 8 oz. dried cherries (about 1 1/2 cups)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 5 oz. salad greens
Instructions
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Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
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Chop celery, onion (try to get it small — without stressing), and chicken into small, bite-sized pieces.
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Mix together mayonnaise and poppyseed dressing.
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Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve over salad greens.
Notes
Storage: Keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days. If it seems dry after sitting, stir in a splash more poppyseed dressing before serving.
Ingredients: Gemelli is the classic shape here — the corkscrew holds onto the dressing and cherries nicely. Fusilli works just as well. For the poppyseed dressing, store-bought is completely intentional (Brianna’s is the one).
Prep ahead: This is an ideal make-ahead recipe. Make it the morning of or the night before — the flavor only improves with time. Hold the salad greens separately and add them right before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This is a full meal on its own served over salad greens, but it also works beautifully as a side dish. It pairs well with grilled chicken or alongside a simple green salad for something lighter. For a full summer spread, serve it next to corn on the cob or a fresh fruit salad — the sweet-savory flavors play really well together.
About the Author
Emily Dingmann is a recipe developer and founder of My Everyday Table, where she helps busy families take the stress out of weeknight dinners. With a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and almost 20 years of experience, Emily specializes in simple, nourishing recipes and weekly meal plans that actually work for everyday life. She’s a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who believes delicious food and good nutrition go hand in hand.
Get started: Weeknight Dinners Guide | Weekly Meal Plans | About Emily
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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i cannot even tell you how much i miss lunds/byerlys. their deli is my fave. and i LOVE the simplicity of this dish – the perfect salad for a summer picnic!
can you tell i am ready for some HOT weather?
hope you are well dear – love ya!
I miss shopping at Byerly’s.
Now, you are only adding to my ‘to try’ list. BTW, I made your rhubarb strawberry crostini and avocado lime coleslaw over the weekend. Blog post coming soon – they were great!
I can say first hand that this re-worked cherry chicken salad was delicious!
You’re torturing me! Chicken salad might be the only meat food that I really miss . . . add cherries, and that’s practically irresistable!
we sell something similar in the deli case at my lovely little coffee shop 🙂 i havent tried and dont think i will as yours looks WAY better!
This sounds like such a great alternative. I love dried cherries in all my foods!
Mmmmm this looks great! I love the cranberries in there!
I’m definitely going to try this with some chicken leftovers. I’m always adding cranberries to my chicken/tuna salads. The cherries are a nice change.
I LOVE Lunds/Byerlys. And their restaurant!! And now that I’m eating meat again….! 😉
I need someone to show me how to cook chicken though… I’ve obviously never had to before, and my first attempt the other day was a major FAIL.
Delish- I love the addition of dried cherries!
This looks like a perfect lunch or dinner. It looks so filling with a perfect amount of healthy pasta to fill you up!
Deli salads are the best! I always try to make them myself, but for some reason they just never quite taste as great (without the fat). I love cherries!!
I agree with Mary Beth! It was very good!
I went on a blind date to the Twin Cities area from California and was greeted with a picnic that included this pasta salad. I was hooked!! On the salad, not so much on the date.
I tracked down the recipe from the store and am frequently requested to make it for potlucks at the office. I’ve tried other dressings, but Brianna’s can not be topped for this dish.
Thank you for sharing
R~
I made this quick pasta salad with 2 packages Tofurky brand seitan, as I am a vegetarian, and it was a HUGE hit with my partner and my 2 kids (4 years, 21 months.) This pasta salad will be on regular summer rotation at our house for certain!
Oooooh, I want to try that!