Our Favorite Pasta Chicken Salad Recipe, we can’t stop eating this one. Shell Macaroni with chicken breast, peas and a creamy sweet and tangy dressing.
I received this recipe nearly 30 years ago from a co-worker who sat eating this for lunch as we enjoyed our lunch break in the lounge.
It was pasta, so of course I asked her about it and she offered me a bite. I was instantly hooked on the creamy, sweet and sour flavor and asked for the recipe.
It’s a fabulous make ahead recipe for a pot luck and it’s one of those flavors that we simply can’t stop eating.
My Favorite Chicken Macaroni Salad. Although I’ve had this recipe for about 30 years, it’s not one I make often because I simply can’t be trusted around it. I’ll stand over the kitchen island and eat half the bowl in minutes.
So while the “servings” portion of the recipe indicates eight, if I’m around it’s actually six for me and two for you…two if you’re lucky.
Let’s take a look.
Cold Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups large shell macaroni — cooked
- 10 ounces chicken breasts I’ve used rotisserie, canned and breasts cooked and cubed – it all works, cooked and cut into bite sized pieces.
- 8 ounces frozen peas
- 1 cup celery finely chopped
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoon sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dillweed
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. In the meantime chop all vegetables and place in a large bowl. Add peas. Drain pasta and pour hot over the vegetables in the bowl. Add mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and dillweed.. Mix well and adjust for flavors.
Nutrition
As with my potato salad, I like to have all the ingredients in a large bowl and then add my hot drained starch on top, letting everything sit for a couple of minutes to steam the vegetables and seasonings before I mix together. After stirring, adjust flavors to suit your palate. I usually start with 1 Tsp dried dill and also tweak salt, sugar and vinegar to get it just right for me. As always this is better if it sits overnight in the fridge.
Pasta Chicken Salad Recipe …It’s What’s for Dinner.
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!