I Tried the Pasta Salad That's Been Saved Thousands of Times—and It Is That Good

Published on May 24, 2025

Summer is pasta salad season, and I'm always on the hunt for a new go-to recipe. When I noticed our mashup of Marry Me Chicken and pasta salad was being saved over and over again, I knew I had to give it a try. And speaking of saving recipes, if you haven't checked out our MyRecipes feature, consider this the nudge you need. MyRecipes is an online recipe box where you can save all your favorite Better Homes & Gardens recipes. It's my go-to tool for saving recipes and planning meals. Here's what I thought of our fan-favorite pasta salad.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad

Here's a quick look at how to make our recipe for tortellini pasta salad.

1. Start by making the marinade for your chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and fresh basil. Add the chicken breasts and marinate for at about an hour.
2. While the chicken marinates, I like to prep the dressing. In a small blender, combine mayo, sour cream, heavy cream, garlic, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Toss this in the fridge to chill.
3. Grill the chicken until cooked through and set it aside to cool at room temperature while you finish the salad.
4. Cook the tortellini and asparagus and drain. Rinse with cold water to chill.
5. Chop the chicken and assemble the salad with the tortellini, cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, and dressing. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve.
   

Why This Pasta Salad Is So Good

There were a lot of things I loved about the finished dish, but the flavor combination of tomato, basil, and Parmesan cheese stood out the most. Individually they're great, but together they become the unofficial taste of summer. Thanks to the addition of chicken, this pasta salad becomes a hearty main dish that I enjoyed for lunch throughout the week.

Tips for Making Homemade Pasta Salad

Here are a few things I'll keep in mind next time I try this pasta salad.

• This pasta salad recipe is easy to customize. Not a fan of asparagus? Try adding a couple of handfuls of baby spinach or frozen peas instead. Can't find grape tomatoes? Chopped tomatoes or cherry tomatoes work well here. We liked the flavor of cheese tortellini, but I think pesto tortellini would help bring out the basil flavor in the dish.
• When grilling the chicken, the sweetness of the tomato paste will caramelize quickly. Don't worry if the chicken turns dark brown as it cooks; it adds a lovely depth of flavor to the dish.
• I didn't have heavy cream on hand, so I used milk instead. The sauce was still plenty rich and creamy without it.
• Try adding a drizzle of balsamic reduction and black pepper on top.
• This recipe does have a lot of steps, but it's a meal prep dream. Here's how I prepped a batch for a week of lunches. Make the sauce, grilled chicken, and tortellini mixture ahead and stash them in the fridge. When serving, toss together individual portions and top with a few sliced cherry tomatoes. I don't recommend storing the salad assembled, as the pasta will soften in the sauce.
• Love this flavor combination? Try (or save!) our Marry Me Chicken Pasta and Marry Me Chicken Soup. I've made them, and they're both delicious.
• Want to try another unexpected pasta salad? Our Dill Pickle Pasta Salad recipe was a winner with my family and will be big hits at your summer barbecue.

The Verdict on Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad

I can totally understand why this pasta salad recipe is a BHG reader favorite. It has all the elements of a great pasta salad—a flavorful dressing, tender pasta, and veggies. But what makes this rendition extra special is the addition of marinated grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese. As one reviewer put it best, it's a "perfect main dish summer salad!"