The Ultimate Copycat Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad: Recreate Plates & Palates’ Signature Dish at Home

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at Plates & Palates in Bountiful, Utah, then you’re likely familiar with their legendary Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad. It’s a dish that captivates with its unique blend of refreshing citrus, aromatic tarragon, and a delightful mix of textures. For years, I’ve been on a mission to recreate this culinary masterpiece, and after countless attempts and careful adjustments, I’ve finally perfected a recipe that comes incredibly close to the original. I’m thrilled to share this much-anticipated copycat Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad recipe with you – prepare to fall in love!

This isn’t just any pasta salad; it’s a vibrant, flavorful experience that brightens any meal. Whether you’re planning a summer picnic, a backyard barbecue, a family potluck, or simply looking for a refreshing weeknight dinner, this salad is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. The key lies in the balance of fresh ingredients and a truly exquisite homemade dressing that ties everything together beautifully. Join me as we dive into crafting this delicious dish!

What Makes This Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad Irresistible?

The magic of this Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad lies in its thoughtfully chosen ingredients, each contributing to a symphony of flavors and textures. The foundation of this incredible dish includes:

• Bowtie Noodles: Their unique shape perfectly captures the creamy dressing and provides a satisfying bite.
• Sweet Red Grapes: These add bursts of juicy sweetness, a delightful contrast to the savory elements.
• Tender Cubed Chicken: Provides a lean protein, making the salad hearty enough to be a main course.
• Crisp Celery: Delivers a refreshing crunch and subtle earthy notes.
• Toasted Slivered Almonds: Offers a nutty flavor and an essential textural contrast.
• Fresh Green Onions: Adds a mild, zesty onion flavor without being overpowering.

But the true star that elevates these components into a harmonious dish is the silky-smooth, bright, and herbaceous lemon tarragon dressing. It’s this dressing that transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience, leaving you craving more with every forkful.

This recipe, as written, generously serves 6 people, making it perfect for a family meal or a small gathering. However, based on its popularity in my household, I almost always recommend doubling it! A double batch yields approximately 10-12 servings, which is ideal if you’re serving it as a main course, bringing it to a larger potluck, or simply want plenty of leftovers. While it makes an excellent side dish, its robust flavor and satisfying ingredients often lead it to become the star of the show.

Plates & Palates: The Inspiration Behind the Dish

For those unfamiliar, Plates & Palates is a beloved restaurant nestled in West Bountiful, Utah, renowned for its fresh, high-quality, and incredibly delicious offerings. It’s a hugely popular lunch spot, a go-to for locals seeking delightful fresh salads, gourmet sandwiches, and tempting desserts. The atmosphere is inviting, and the menu is crafted with care, emphasizing vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients.

Among their stellar menu items, the Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad has long stood out as a fan favorite. Its unique flavor profile and refreshing quality make it a perfect accompaniment to their sandwiches or a satisfying meal on its own. Recreating this particular salad has been a labor of love, aiming to capture the essence of what makes Plates & Palates so special. My goal was to develop a recipe that allows you to enjoy that signature taste without having to leave your home, perfect for those times when a trip to Bountiful isn’t on the cards.

Crafting the Perfect Lemon Tarragon Dressing

The dressing is, without a doubt, the heart and soul of this pasta salad. Achieving that exquisite balance of tangy lemon and distinctive tarragon flavor requires a few crucial steps and the right ingredients. Here are my top tips for making a dressing that truly sings:

1. Use a High-Powered Blender: This is non-negotiable for achieving that silky-smooth consistency. A blender like a Blendtec or Vitamix emulsifies the ingredients perfectly, preventing separation and ensuring every component is evenly distributed. It also finely minces the fresh tarragon, releasing its full aromatic potential into the dressing.
2. Always Opt for Fresh Ingredients: This applies particularly to the tarragon and lemons. Dried tarragon simply won’t yield the same vibrant, nuanced flavor as fresh. Fresh lemon juice provides a bright, sharp tang that bottled juice cannot replicate, and the zest adds an extra layer of concentrated citrus aroma. Trust me, cutting corners here will significantly impact the final taste, and the salad simply won’t be the same!

The combination of creamy mayonnaise, tangy buttermilk, a hint of onion powder, and the sweetness of sugar and honey perfectly balances the bold flavors of lemon and tarragon. Blending these ingredients creates a harmonious dressing that coats every piece of pasta and every ingredient, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite.

The Secret to Maximum Flavor: The Two-Part Dressing Method

One of the key techniques that sets this copycat recipe apart and ensures truly exceptional flavor is the two-part dressing method. This might seem like an extra step, but it’s absolutely essential for allowing the pasta to fully absorb and marinate in the dressing’s delicious flavors, resulting in a more profound and satisfying taste.

Here’s how it works:

1. Initial Toss and Chill: First, you’ll assemble all your salad ingredients – the cooked and cooled bowtie pasta, red grapes, diced celery, slivered almonds, chopped green onions, and cubed chicken. Then, you’ll toss this medley with *half* of the freshly prepared lemon tarragon dressing. This initial coating begins the infusion process.
2. The Chilling Period: Once combined, the salad (and the remaining half of the dressing, stored separately) needs to chill in the refrigerator. Ideally, this should be for 1-2 hours, but for the most intense flavor, leaving it overnight is highly recommended. During this time, the pasta acts like a sponge, soaking up the dressing, becoming incredibly flavorful and tender without getting soggy.
3. Final Toss Before Serving: Just before you’re ready to serve, bring out the chilled salad and the reserved dressing. Give the salad a good toss with the *remaining* half of the dressing. This freshens up the flavors, ensures a perfectly creamy consistency, and adds a final burst of that bright lemon and tarragon taste, making it taste freshly made.

This method ensures that every component of the salad is thoroughly seasoned and bursting with the signature lemon tarragon flavor, making each bite a truly memorable experience. It’s a small step that makes a monumental difference in the final outcome of your homemade pasta salad.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

This Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad is incredibly versatile. It shines as a light main course, especially on warm days, but it truly excels as a side dish for almost any occasion. Consider pairing it with grilled chicken or fish, juicy burgers, or even alongside a fresh green salad for a complete meal. It’s also an absolute must-have for potlucks, picnics, and summer gatherings, always disappearing quickly!

Feeling creative? Here are a few ideas to customize your pasta salad:

• Vegetarian Option: Easily make this salad vegetarian by omitting the chicken. For added protein, consider tossing in a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or white beans.
• Herb Alternatives: While fresh tarragon is key to the “Plates & Palates” flavor, a blend of tarragon with a little fresh dill or chives can also be delightful.
• Nutty Swaps: Not a fan of almonds? Try toasted pecans, walnuts, or even sunflower seeds for a different crunch.
• Add More Veggies: Cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, or finely chopped bell peppers can add extra color and freshness.
• Pasta Variety: While bowtie noodles are traditional here, feel free to experiment with other short pasta shapes like rotini, fusilli, or penne.

No matter how you serve it or customize it, this Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad is sure to become a new favorite in your recipe rotation.

Like this recipe and want to save it for later? Pin it to Pinterest here!

Final Thoughts on Your Homemade Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad

Recreating a beloved restaurant dish at home is always a rewarding experience, and this Lemon Tarragon Pasta Salad is no exception. It’s a testament to how fresh, quality ingredients and a few clever techniques can transform simple components into something truly extraordinary. The bright, herbaceous notes of the dressing, combined with the sweet grapes, crunchy almonds, and tender chicken, make for a perfectly balanced and incredibly satisfying meal.

I encourage you to give this recipe a try and discover for yourself why it’s a cherished favorite. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s a taste of Bountiful’s culinary charm, brought directly to your kitchen. Share it with friends and family, bring it to your next gathering, and watch it disappear just as quickly as it does at Plates & Palates. Enjoy the process of creating this delightful salad, and savor every fresh, zesty bite!