This Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe is a classic make-ahead pasta salad, which makes it pot luck perfect. With chicken breast, peas and an irresistible creamy sweet tangy mayonnaise dressing, this is one of those “can’t stop eating” recipes.
This creamy chicken macaroni salad is a great recipe for a ladies luncheon, a recipe to add to your Summer BBQ plans, or for that office potluck. Why? Because it’s a make-ahead recipe and It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
I’ve enjoyed this recipe for nearly 35 years, compliments of a co-worker. Its hands down our favorite macaroni salad. And that’s a big compliment since I’ve hardly met a macaroni salad I didn’t like.
An addicting flavor and texture combination of chicken, macaroni, and a medley of crunchy vegetables, all coated in a creamy sweet and tangy dressing.
This recipe also adds a touch of dill to brighten the overall flavor.
Everyone adores a good old-fashioned pasta salad, especially during Summer months when macaroni salads rule.
This is an easy recipe to make, so if you’re a beginner cook, you can take this one to the bank and enjoy the compliments.
And there’s something about peas and pasta that sends this one over the top.
Let’s take a look.
Ingredients of Macaroni Chicken Salad
- Pasta: Keep it simple and traditional with elbow macaroni noodles.
- Frozen Peas.
- Chicken Breast: Cook the chicken breast in advance.
- Mayonnaise: Use a name brand mayo such as Best Foods, Dukes or Hellmans.
- Onion, sweet, yellow or white onion. Avoid red onion as the flavor is very strong and will over-power the other ingredient flavors.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pasta: Use any short cylindrical pasta shape. I like shell shaped pasta for this recipe or something fun like Cavatappi. Shell macaroni is also a great idea here.
- Dill Weed: This recipe calls for dried dill weed. If you have access to fresh dill you can most certainly substitute it. Fresh dill will also work well as garnish.
- Chicken Breast: Cook your own chicken breast and then cut into bite sized pieces, or use chopped rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken breast will make this even easier.
- Vinegar: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar will work well here, as well as unseasoned rice vinegar.
Pro Tip: When substituting dried herbs for fresh, a good rule of thumb is 1 Tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs. Some herbs season better when used in dried form. Oregano is a good example.
How To Make Chicken Macaroni Salad, It’s Easy!
- Step 1: Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain well and rinse briefly with cool water.
- Step 2 : Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain well and rinse briefly with cool water. Add the pasta to a large mixing bowl and top with the remaining ingredients.
- Step 3: Using a large spoon, gently stir to combine. Refrigerate at least two hours before serving.
FAQS
You could use cooked boneless, skinless chicken thighs, however the texture of of chicken thighs will change the overall creamy texture of the salad. Thigh meat from a rotisserie chicken would be the exception here. Cooked chicken breast is softer in texture, lighter in color and will work best for this recipe.
Yes. I suggest using a gallon sized freezer bag. I love these bags for storage because they are easy to squeeze the air out of, and they lay flat for convenient space saving storage.
That’s the beauty of this recipe, it’s better made a day ahead as the flavors will improve as it rests. I’ve made this salad for years, and if you cook the macaroni past the a la dente stage, it won’t continue to absorb moisture as it sits. So it won’t dry out.
Tips for Success
- Cook the pasta past the a la dente stage. Flavors in this pasta salad will benefit from a rest in the refrigerator overnight. If the pasta is cooked a la dente, it will continue to absorb the moisture from the mayo sauce and will dry out. Cook the pasta to just past the a la dente stage, but don’t let it get mushy.
- I like to slice boneless, skinless chicken breast, season it with salt and pepper and then saute it in a fry pan stove top. Once cooked through, simply cut into bite sized pieces. You can even purchase pre-cut chicken tenders at the store to make this even easier.
- Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad? The only reason I rinse in cold water is to help stop the macaroni from cooking while it’s draining in the colander. But, don’t let the cooked macaroni cool too much. Mixing warm macaroni with the vegetables helps bring out the flavor of the celery and onion.
- Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, or even over night. This will marry the flavors.
- This is a good chance to practice your knife skills. Try to cut the celery and onion into equal sized pieces. Doing so will improve the appearance of the salad. Uniform pieces will also insure a more enhanced flavor experience due to even distribution. Uniform cuts will also improve the appearance of this salad.
Pro Tip Knife Skills: Always keep the hand that’s gripping the knife clean and dry. A wet hand could cause slips resulting in nicks or worse a nasty slice on your hand.
Storage and Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This is one of those recipes that tastes better with time.
Variations, Pasta Add-In Ideas
I personally wouldn’t fiddle with this chicken salad recipe, it’s that good … but if you’d like here are some add-ins.
- Chopped carrot.
- Chopped hard boiled egg
- Chopped mild bell pepper, like orange or red bell pepper. Green bell peppers may bring too strong of a flavor.
- Want to make this a tuna macaroni salad? Use drained canned tuna in place of chicken breast.
What To Serve With This Macaroni Salad
Since chicken is added to this macaroni salad, it’s pretty much a main course which makes it perfect to take to a pot luck. However, if you’re feeding a crowd, or hosting a back yard barbecue and need a variety, it would go well with any grilled burgers, steak kabobs or grilled flank steak.
Recipe For Chicken Macaroni Salad
Serve this pasta salad in a shallow pasta dish garnished with ground black pepper, chopped chives, or chopped fresh dill. Serve the salad cold or at room temperature.
Chicken macaroni salad is a timeless classic that brings together the best of flavors and textures in a single dish. You’re going to love serving this because of the compliments you’ll receive.
More Macaroni and Pasta Salad Recipes
- Pioneer Woman’s Macaroni Salad
- Old Fashioned Amish Macaroni Salad
- Smoked Mozzarella Penne Pasta Salad (Whole Food Recipe)
- The Best Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad – EVER!
And if you’re looking for even more pasta recipes, either for main course or side dishes, don’t miss my Pasta Category. You’ll find lots of mouthwatering recipes, including the most popular on my site for Fleming’s Steakhouse Mac and Cheese.
This recipe was first published April of 2011 and updated June of 2023 with step by step instructions and photos.
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Cold Creamy Chicken Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni cooked according to package instructions
- 2 cup chicken breast cooked and chopped
- 8 ounces frozen peas
- 1 cup celery finely chopped
- ¾ cup sweet onion finely chopped
- 1 ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 teaspooon dried dillweed or 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped.
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions just past a al dente stage.
- In the meantime chop all vegetables. Once the pasta is cooked, drain in a colander and then rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.
- Place drained pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add all of the remaining ingredients and stir gently to combine.
- Taste and adjust flavors to suite your palate. If you like it sweeter, add a little bit of sugar. If you think it's too sweet, add a little more salt or vinegar.
Notes
- Cook the pasta past the a la dente stage. Flavors in this pasta salad will benefit from a rest in the refrigerator overnight. If the pasta is cooked a la dente, it will continue to absorb the moisture from the mayo sauce and will dry out. Cook the pasta to just past the a la dente stage, but don’t let it get mushy.
- I like to slice boneless, skinless chicken breast, season it with salt and pepper and then saute it in a fry pan stove top. Once cooked through, simply cut into bite sized pieces. You can even purchase pre-cut chicken tenders at the store to make this even easier.
- Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad? The only reason I so is to help stop the macaroni from cooking while it’s draining in the colander. But, don’t let the cooked macaroni cool too much. Mixing warm macaroni with the vegetables helps bring out the flavor of the celery and onion.
- Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, or even over night. This will marry the flavors.
- This is a good chance to practice your knife skills. Try to cut the celery and onion into equal sized pieces. Doing so will improve the appearance of the salad. Uniform pieces will also insure a more enhanced flavor experience due to even distribution.
Nutrition
Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe …It’s What’s for Dinner.
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and believe that everyone should try to cook as often as they can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
This salad is yummy! I was a little apprehensive about the sugar, but it works well with the other ingredients. Definitely a keeper! Thanks Lea Ann
This is a delicious macaroni salad. It is one of those recipes that keeps drawing me to the fridge for “just a little more” until it’s gone. Thanks Lea Ann.
Hi Lynn and thanks so much for taking the time to write a review for this macaroni salad. It’s one of my favorites and I eat it exactly as you do. Sneak a little at a time. 🙂
Highlands Ranch Foodie’s Pasta Chicken Salad recipe is a true culinary masterpiece that combines the best of both worlds. The al dente pasta provides a comforting base, while the tender chicken adds a savory twist. Tossed with a medley of fresh vegetables and a zesty dressing, this salad bursts with vibrant colors and flavors, making it a delightful and satisfying option for any occasion.
Don’t push another mac salad on me after getting me “hooked” on Pdub’s recipe a year (or two) ago. I’m loyal! I make it regularly and even have every ingredient waiting to go right now. I’m still tired, though, from that Basketball title we just won. Whew! Exhausting!!!
Hi Susan and thanks for the note. One can never have too many macaroni salad recipes. I agree that Pioneer Woman salad is one of the best. I’ve not made it in a couple of years. Tis’ the season, Maybe over the 4th of July holiday.
And OMG that Nuggets game. What an exciting game to watch … win or lose. I had to take an Advil PM after the game I was so wound up … and yet exhausted mentally. Now if Sean Payton can just work a couple of miracles with those Broncos! 🙂
This post makes me smile. I’m sorry I missed the Abbie comedy…and the pasta salad. I kept meaning to grab a spoonful and never did. I hope you make it again.
There are so many things at that meetup that I mean to grab a bite of and don’t get around to it. I’ll make it again as a back by popular demand dish. 🙂
I adore these old salad recipes, Lea Ann. They are the BEST. Obviously, as dogs and people alike love this one. 🙂
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I’m glad you could scrape off the top and enjoy the rest!
Thanks so much for stopping by to visit again – I just don’t seem to get around as much as I would like to, so it’s a nice reminder to pop over here!
So funny… I was craving pasta salad the other day and had chicken to use so I just made this recipe the other day – well, not exactly this recipe, but pretty close! 🙂 It’s an oldie but goodie isn’t it?
Abbie is adorable & gotta love those sweet pups! If I was having a gathering of folks, I’d definitely have to isolate mine or he’d think he was supposed to be eating with the rest of us and with backs turned would do the very same thing. Nice that Barbara hosts a gathering like this.
Okay, that whole Abbie story is just too damn funny! Smart dog.
If this is anywhere close to your crazy good potato salad recipe, I just know my guys are going to flip over it. I loved the story, the description of your meetings (jealous) and that CUTE green bowl (hide that one for sure). Great post and an adorable dog with impeccable taste. 🙂
This is a really cute post and the salad does sound delicious. I make my potato salad the same way – with hot potatoes over everything. I think it comes out much creamier that way.
Thanks Karen!
This post had me in peals of laughter! Mainly because I could see my dog doing the exact same thing. She’s been known to be caught having eaten whole loaves of bread (and she is TINY!). This salad does sound delicious!
Joanne????? I’ve never heard you talk about you having a dog. Must live with your parents? Ornery little critters aren’t they? 🙂
Cute story! This is a classic salad and one to make over and over.
Thanks Joumana! 🙂
Well, actually, I liked the salad so much that I just told you all it was Abbie eating it, instead it was me. No, just kidding. Abbie just has great taste, sweet littly doggie that she is. What else would we expect from a food blogger’s dog? It was a great tasting salad, so thanks for sharing it with us, Lea Ann.
Ok now that’s funny Kirsten!
What a sweet story. I kind of glanced over the title and then it suddenly hit me what Abbie you were talking about. How cute! She is a love and she does have great taste because this salad is delicious. So glad to now have your recipe.
Thanks Karen. Now, if I can just make that pastry of yours. 🙂
I am touched and I mean that really. I can’t help it; I do love that dog and am so thankful that you don’t hate either of us after the ‘mishap.’
A lovely story, yes, an adorable dog but most importantly…that REALLY is some good chicken salad.
Barb, I prefer to refer to it as an “incident” rather than a mishap. 🙂 Hugs to my macaroni salad lovin buddy.
My first experience with pet animal theft was with a cat. Practically ate a whole Apple Pie resting on our porch on the farm. I remember my mom and I screaming in horror and then laughing so hard we almost fell down. Thanks Larry, I think this pasta salad is really good..if you like the sweet sour thing going on. Thanks for the comment.
Cute dog and good story. In addition to the dogs, we have a cat and sometime back we learned that after seasoning our steaks and while letting them warm up some they need to be inside a cupboard lest part of one goes missing. Your pasta salad sounds very good and I do the same as you and stand around snacking on it. Everytime I host a meeting of the Greenback bloggers group, no one shows up but me.
What a wonderful compliment! Your recipe looks so easy too… I’m looking forward to trying it!
Thanks Liz
Looks wonderful, LA! One question – did you keep the remaining salad to eat later? LOL! Oh – love the bowl!
That’s why I love them Russ. 🙂
It pained us to stuff that mac salad down the garbage disposal..It’s so good I was tempted.
It’s those cute little dogs you really have to watch out for!