Name: Lemon Pepper Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: American

Cooking with Conks Verified

February 4, 2026

We love a good pasta salad recipe, especially in the summer. This bright and summery Lemon Pepper Pasta Salad combines the classic flavors of lemon pepper with chicken, pasta, fresh veggies, savory cheese, and a killer lemon pepper dressing. The lemon pepper dressing is savory, tart, and peppery, with just a subtle hint of sweetness. It’s well balanced, simple, and easy to make.

From the Cook

1/5

Lemon Pepper Pasta Salad

Cooking with Conks Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 5 other allergens identified

Instructions

This recipe also lives on Cooking with Conks.Show them some love by checking it out! 😊

Check out original post! 😊

Original PostView

Chicken & Pasta

Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Lightly coat each chicken breast with olive oil (about 1 tbsp total), then evenly distribute 3 tsp of lemon pepper seasoning total onto both sides of each chicken breast so that they’re fully covered.

Cook the chicken on a baking sheet for about 25 minutes, flipping over halfway, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove the cooked chicken from the sheet tray (keep the oven on) and let it rest.

While the chicken is baking, cook the pasta in boiling water 1 to 2 minutes longer than the package directions state. Drain and rinse under cold water, then toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Add the asparagus to the sheet tray and toss it with olive oil and 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the asparagus is soft but not mushy.

Dressing

Add the dressing ingredients to a mason jar and cover it with a lid. Shake until combined.

Assembly

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then add it to the cooked pasta with the asparagus, onion, manchego, parsley, and dressing and gently mix so that everything is combined.

Cover the pasta bowl and set it aside to cool to room temperature so the flavors can blend. You can also place it in the fridge to chill (if chilling, bring it back to room temperature before serving). Toss the pasta salad again when ready to serve.

Smart Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
Review & Earn

Be the first to review this recipe and earn a 20% Bonus

Level up & unlock free Premium by reviewing recipes!

My Notes

Your kitchen notebook is waiting.

Whether it's a recipe tweak or an inspiration burst — jot it down here.

Tips & Tricks (5)

Pasta Al Dente Mastery 🍝
Cook pasta just until al dente and immediately shock in ice water to stop cooking, preventing mushy pasta salad texture.
Zesty Dressing Emulsion 🍋
Whisk lemon juice and olive oil slowly to create a stable emulsion that coats pasta evenly and prevents separation.
Chicken Prep Pro 🔪
Butterfly and pound chicken breast to an even 1/2-inch thickness for consistent, quick cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
Asparagus Blanching Technique 💦
Blanch asparagus in salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then immediately transfer to ice water to preserve bright color and crisp texture.
Flavor Layering Trick 🌶️
Toast lemon pepper seasoning in a dry pan for 30 seconds before using to intensify its aromatic oils and deepen the flavor profile.

Intelligent Tags

About the Cook

Cooking with Conks

We’re Rachel & Emily Conklin (“Conks” for short), sisters, lifelong foodies, and the voices behind Cooking with Conks. We grew up in Southern California, surrounded by bold flavors, big family meals, and the kind of kitchen chaos that turns into inside jokes