Best 6 Best Chicken Pasta Salad Recipes

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Chicken pasta salad is a classic summer dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or casual gatherings. It's a versatile dish that can be tailored to your own taste preferences, making it a crowd-pleaser. From choosing the right pasta and chicken to selecting the perfect dressing and mix-ins, there are endless possibilities for creating a delicious and satisfying chicken pasta salad. Whether you prefer a creamy, tangy, or Italian-inspired dressing, there is a recipe out there that will suit your taste buds. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of creating the best chicken pasta salad, from selecting the right ingredients to assembling and serving this refreshing and flavorful dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CHICKEN PASTA SALAD WITH CREAMY DRESSING



Chicken Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing image

Recipe video above. This is a big batch Chicken Pasta Salad with plenty of creamy dressing, lightened up using a combination of sour cream and mayonnaise so it's not excessively oil. Make it today, enjoy it for days!After a no mayo version? Use a Creamy Yogurt Dressing instead.

Provided by Nagi

Categories     Lunch     Pasta     Salad meal

Number Of Ingredients 18

500g / 1 lb macaroni / elbow pasta ((or other pasta of choice))
1 tbsp salt ((to cook pasta))
3 cups cooked chicken (, shredded or finely chopped (Note 1))
150g / 5 oz bacon (, chopped)
2 celery stalks (, finely sliced)
1 red capsicum / bell pepper (, finely diced)
2 green onions (, finely sliced)
2 carrots ((medium), shredded using standard box grater)
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, tasty, Colby)
2 avocados ((small/medium), cut into bite size pieces (optional))
1 cup mayonnaise (, whole egg best (Hellmann's, Best Foods, S&W or other whole egg mayonnaise))
1 cup sour cream (, full fat (low fat ok too))
3 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
4 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Steps:

  • Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add salt, then cook pasta per packet directions. Drain well, let cool.
  • Dressing: Mix Dressing ingredients in a bowl. Set aside 10 minutes+.
  • Cook bacon: Place bacon in a cold non-stick skillet (Note X). Turn stove on to medium high, then cook bacon until golden. Drain on paper towels.
  • Toss! Place cooked pasta in a large bowl along with all the Pasta Salad ingredients, reserving some bacon for garnish. Pour over Dressing, then toss well.
  • Set aside for 20 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with remaining bacon. Serve!
  • Storage: Keeps for 3 - 4 days in the fridge. Best to bring to room temp before serving!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 548 kcal, Carbohydrate 37 g, Protein 24 g, Fat 33 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 76 mg, Sodium 1355 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 5 g, ServingSize 1 serving

BEST EVER PASTA SALAD WITH CHICKEN



Best Ever Pasta Salad with Chicken image

This is a tasty and filling chicken pasta salad. Perfect served with a croissant and iced tea for a summer luncheon! Enjoy.

Provided by Diane Whitfield

Categories     Salad     Pasta Salad     Chicken Pasta Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 cups rotelli pasta
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon dried tarragon
½ teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
¼ cup minced pimento
2 tablespoons minced capers
coarsely ground black pepper to taste
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
½ pound Havarti cheese, diced
4 green onions, diced
4 boneless chicken breast halves - cooked, cooled and cubed

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, tarragon, dill, salt, mustard, pimento, capers and pepper. Seat aside.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, green pepper, Havarti, green onions and chicken. Add dressing to taste and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.1 calories, Carbohydrate 12.2 g, Cholesterol 76.7 mg, Fat 42.9 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 23.5 g, SaturatedFat 12.6 g, Sodium 668 mg, Sugar 1.2 g

CREAMY CHICKEN AND PASTA SALAD



Creamy Chicken and Pasta Salad image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

Kosher salt
8 ounces tubetti or other small tube-shaped pasta
1 1/4 cups 2% percent Greek yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/3 cup chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
1 rotisserie chicken
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 Kirby cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and chopped
Freshly ground pepper
8 cups mesclun greens

Steps:

  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
  • Meanwhile, whisk the yogurt, mayonnaise, 1/4 cup water, the vinegar, mustard, dill, chives and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl. Remove the skin from the chicken and shred the meat into large pieces. Add the chicken, celery and cucumber to the dressing and gently stir to combine.
  • Shake the excess water from the pasta and add it to the chicken salad. Season with pepper and toss. Serve over the greens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 672, Fat 32 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 114 milligrams, Sodium 1724 milligrams, Carbohydrate 56 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 44 grams

CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD WITH PASTA



Chinese Chicken Salad with Pasta image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

3/4 pound fettucine
12 ounces cooked chicken or smoked chicken
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 to 3 tablespoons Oriental sesame oil
2 to 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons Chinese chili paste with garlic
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter
Salt
Crushed red pepper
Spinach leaves as a bed for salad
2 Kirby cucumbers, peeled, seeded and grated for garnish
Chopped peanuts and/or cilantro leaves for garnish, optional

Steps:

  • Boil the pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes.
  • While the water is coming to a boil for the pasta and the pasta itself is cooking, cut the chicken into strips about 2 inches long and 1/4-inch wide. In the bottom of a mixing bowl combine the
  • scallions, sesame oil, rice vinegar, chili paste and peanut butter. Whisk until smooth and season
  • with salt and crushed red pepper. Add more of any ingredient to make it taste as you wish.
  • Add the chicken. When the pasta is done, drain and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and pat dry. Add the pasta to the bowl, toss the ingredients together and adjust the seasoning.
  • Transfer the salad to a platter lined with spinach leaves (dressed or not as you wish with a vinaigrette or favorite salad dressing). Garnish with cucumbers, peanuts or cilantro.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN-PASTA SALAD



Ultimate Chicken-Pasta Salad image

Brunch, box lunch or brown bag? Here's a tasty chicken salad you have to try.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Lunch

Time 2h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons poppy seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 box (16 oz) gemelli pasta
2 cups diced cooked chicken
1 cup sweetened dried cherries
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Steps:

  • In small bowl, mix dressing ingredients with wire whisk until well blended. Cover; refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.
  • In large bowl, mix cooked pasta, chicken, cherries and celery. Mix dressing mixture again with wire whisk to recombine; pour over salad and toss gently to coat. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours before serving to chill salad and blend flavors. Stir in almonds.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Carbohydrate 58 g, Cholesterol 25 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 4 g, Protein 18 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 290 mg, Sugar 17 g, TransFat 0 g

CHICKEN & PASTA SALAD



Chicken & pasta salad image

For a speedy, superhealthy supper this pasta dish is just the thing - save leftovers for lunch the next day

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Dinner, Lunch, Main course, Supper

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 red pepper , deseeded and thickly sliced
1 red onion , thickly sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
300g penne or fusilli pasta
4 skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp each chopped thyme and oregano
pinch dried chilli flakes
2 garlic cloves , crushed
150g pack cherry tomato , halved
50g bag rocket
1 tbsp white wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Mix the pepper and onion with 1 tsp oil and roast for 20 mins.
  • Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile put the chicken breasts between two sheets of cling film and bash with a rolling pin until they're about 1cm thick. Mix remaining oil, herbs, chilli and garlic then rub all over the chicken. Heat a griddle or barbecue and cook for 3-4 mins on each side.
  • Slice the chicken on a board, scrape into the pasta with any juices, plus the roasted onion and pepper, cherry tomatoes, rocket, vinegar and seasoning. Toss together and eat warm or cold.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 470 calories, Fat 6 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 64 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 44 grams protein, Sodium 0.26 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: Fresh, flavorful ingredients will make your pasta salad taste its best.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking it until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it.
  • Let the pasta cool completely before adding the other ingredients: This will help prevent the salad from becoming watery.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This will add color, texture, and flavor to your salad.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different dressings: There are many different types of dressing that can be used for pasta salad, so find one that you like and experiment with different variations.
  • Make sure to chill the salad before serving: This will help the flavors to meld and will make the salad more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Chicken pasta salad is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and summer gatherings. With so many different variations, there is sure to be a recipe that everyone will enjoy. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give chicken pasta salad a try. You won't be disappointed!

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