Skip to Content

Best California Club Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy

Of all the cold pasta salad recipes out there, this might be my very favorite! It’s easy, uses my favorite ingredients and comes together in minutes. Besides, you can change it up based on what you have at home! Absolutely the Best California Club Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy that you’ll find anywhere! 

Best California Club Pasta Salad on blue plate.

Easy California Club Pasta Salad Recipe

My family loves this delicious summer salad. It’s a pasta salad that’s perfect for all kinds of occasions like lazy summer days as a cool-off treat, Easy Fourth of July Appetizers, before soccer practices or even as a nearly complete meal!

This pasta salad comes from one of my favorite sandwiches: the California Club. It’s probably one of yours too. It has delicious ingredients like red onion, red tomato, salty bacon, avocado, rotisserie chicken, crunchy lettuce and savory cheese all served on several layers of your favorite toast. 

In fact, I saw someone on TikTok – make a similar pasta salad and that gave me this idea. I can’t wait for you to try it.

This classic California Pasta Salad uses most of those same ingredients as the sandwich but you can substitute things like cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, chicken breast, and other fresh vegetables. It’s such an easy and simple recipe. 

There’s Only Three Steps

Step 1. Cook the pasta, drain pasta and let it cool completely. 

Step 2. Chop the other ingredients. 

Steps 3. In a big bowl, mix the ingredients together and store in the refrigerator. 

Cooling down cooked pasta

Step 1.

Best California club pasta salad before mixing

Step 2.

making the dressing for the best california club pasta salad

Steps 3.

You Need Simple Kitchen Items

  • ​Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Large Bowl
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Rubber Spatula

Tips and Tricks

It’s easy to make a perfect pasta salad with this California Club Pasta Salad because it’s so versatile! You can throw in lots of ingredients based on what you love! 

We love tossing in some boiled eggs, black olives, red bell peppers, or any colorful vegetable. 

​Here are a few more helpful tips to make yours perfect.

  • Cook the pasta to the “al dente” stage (which means it isn’t all soft) and then rinse with cold water. 
  • To cool faster, put some ice cubes in the strainer and allow it to rest in the sink while you are preparing the other ingredients. 
  • For a lower-calorie diet, try using Italian dressing instead of the mayonnaise and ranch packet. 
  • We like chunks of chicken in ours but sometimes I leave that out so that it doesn’t become too filling.  
  • If you don’t have the homemade ranch dressing ingredients, you can use a bottle of ranch dressing. 
  • The avocado browns quickly, cut that up and add it at the last minute, or leave it off altogether if you are taking this salad to a cookout.

Substitutions for California Club Pasta Salad

Onion – Use red onion, green onion, yellow or white onions, simply cut to a size that is palatable for pasta salad.

Lettuce – A good crunchy lettuce like Romaine lettuce seems to work the best but kale torn up small or spinach will work too!

Meat – If meat isn’t your thing, you can always leave it off or use a meatless substitute.

Ranch Dressing – If you don’t like to use the ranch dressing packet, you can always use the bottled dressing OR you can substutite something like Zesty Italian Salad Dressing.

Cheese – I like to use an American or Cheddar Cheese, but that is a personal preference, use goat cheese, blue cheese or even parmesan cheese. 

Pasta – I’m using the macaroni noodles here but any noodles that cradles the sauce will work perfectly! 

Bacon – Use a crisp bacon. Turkey bacon is fine as is bacon bits (vegetarian option)

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does California Club Pasta Salad Last

If kept covered in the fridge, it lasts up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze This Pasta Salad?

No, it has mayo in it and therefore it doesn’t freeze well.

Can I Use Canned Chicken in this Recipe?

Yes, that works out just fine.

Is this Good with a Canned Tuna In It?

Yes, many people love canned tuna in this Recipe.

Here I Am Making This California Club Pasta Salad

Did you try this recipe? Please visit me on social media and let me know how it turned out for you or leave a comment in the comment section below. That helps others to find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes. 

Want more pasta salad recipes? Check out our Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad or discover all the secrets to the best pasta salad!

pasta salad on a blue plate

Best California Club Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy

An Easy Pasta Salad that your family will love using ingredients you already have in the kitchen. It’s loaded with lots of nutrition needed for your daily values and you’ll be happy to serve it to your family.
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: California Club Pasta Salad
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 337kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 oz macaroni noodles
  • 1 Tbs Kosher Salt divided
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tomato diced
  • 4 slices deli chicken chopped – can use chicken, turkey, ham, etc.
  • 4 slices crunchy bacon chopped
  • 1 cup Baby Spinach
  • 1/2 purple onion diced
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Sauce

  • 1 Cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
  • 2 Tbs Milk optional – to thin sauce if needed

Instructions

  • Cook the macaroni noodles according to package instructions to al dente use 2 tsp kosher salt in the cooking water.
  • Drain the noodles in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Add ice cubes to the strainer and mix them into the noodles. Allow strainer to sit in the sink and drain.
  • Chop and cut up the remaining in ingredients. Set aside. *See notes about avocado.
  • Mix the sauce and set aside. Add the milk if needed to thin the sauce.
  • Once the pasta is cooled, remove any remaining ice cubes. In a large bowl mix the macaroni noodles, the veggies and other ingredients. Pour the sauce over the top and mix well with rubber spatula.
  • ​6. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

  • Cook the pasta to the “al dente” stage (means it isn’t all soft) and then rinse with cold water.
  • To cool faster, put some ice cubes in the strainer and allow it to rest in the sink while you are preparing the other ingredients.
  • For a lower calorie diet, try using Italian dressing instead of the mayonnaise and ranch packet.
  • We like chunks of chicken in ours but sometimes I leave that out so that it doesn’t become too filling.
  • If you don’t have the homemade ranch dressing ingredients, you can use a bottle of ranch dressing.
  • The avocado browns quickly, cut that up and add it at the last minute or leave it off altogether if you are taking this salad to a cookout.
Substitutions
Onion – Use red onion, green onion, yellow or white onions, simply cut to a size that is palatable for pasta salad.
Lettuce – A good crunchy lettuce like Romaine lettuce seems to work the best but kale torn up small or spinach will work too!
Meat – If meat isn’t your thing, you can always leave it off or use a meatless substitute.
Ranch Dressing – If you don’t like to use the ranch dressing packet, you can always use the bottled dressing OR you can substutite something like Zesty Italian Salad Dressing.
Cheese – I like to use an American or Cheddar Cheese, but that is a personal preference, use goat cheese, blue cheese or even parmesan cheese.
Pasta – I’m using the macaroni noodles here but any noodles that cradles the sauce will work perfectly!
Bacon – Use a crisp bacon. Turkey bacon is fine as is bacon bits (vegetarian option)

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Best California Club Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 337 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 9g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 18mg6%
Sodium 830mg35%
Potassium 255mg7%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 410IU8%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 54mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A Verse to Share

Dear Lord above help me to be kind to others. Amen.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




15585

Want My 9 Secrets to Immediate Kitchen Confidence?