Description
A delightful and creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad that’s perfect for picnics or as a refreshing lunch option. This salad combines tender pasta, juicy chicken, crisp broccoli, and a creamy dressing for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 3 cups cooked rotini or bowtie pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, lightly steamed or blanched
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
- Prepare the Ingredients: Lightly steam or blanch the broccoli until crisp-tender. Rinse with cold water and drain.
- Mix Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and red onion.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Combine and Chill: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently to combine. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Add cooked crumbled bacon or sunflower seeds for extra crunch.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
- Can be made up to a day ahead.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook (with some boiling/steaming)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
