Chicken Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing

Name: Chicken Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 10 - 12
Ingredients: 500g / 1 lb macaroni / elbow pasta; 1 tbsp salt; 3 cups cooked chicken; 150g / 5 oz Bacon; 2 celery stalks; 1 red capsicum / bell pepper; 2 green onions; 2 carrots; 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, tasty, Colby); 2 avocados; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 cup sour cream; 3 tbsp cider vinegar; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 4 tsp sugar; 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp salt; 1 tsp pepper

User Reviews

5.0

84 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Servings
10 - 12
Calories
548 kcal
Course
Main Course, Salad, Lunch
Cuisine
American

Chicken Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing

Kai Walton

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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.

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Ingredients

Servings

500g / 1 lb macaroni / elbow pasta (or other pasta of choice)
1 tbsp salt (to cook pasta)

Pasta Salad:

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)

DRESSING:

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

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Instructions

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!

Notes

Cooked chicken - I just use store bought rotisserie chicken. You can also poach your own - use this foolproof poaching method.
Bacon cooking - starting with a cold skillet makes the bacon fat melt as it heat up, so you don't need any oil to cook the bacon.
No mayo dressing - use a Creamy Yogurt Dressing instead. My favourites for pasta salad are the Yogurt Ranch and Yogurt Potato Salad dressing.
Storage - Keeps for 5 days in the fridge. Not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition per serving.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 548cal (27%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 24g (48%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 76mg (25%) Sodium 1355mg (56%) Potassium 410mg (12%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 2390IU (48%) Vitamin C 16mg (18%) Calcium 183mg (18%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10- 12

Amount Per Serving

Calories 548 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	548cal	27%
Carbohydrates	37g	12%
Protein	24g	48%
Fat	33g	51%
Saturated Fat	11g	55%
Trans Fat	1g	50%
Cholesterol	76mg	25%
Sodium	1355mg	56%
Potassium	410mg	9%
Fiber	3g	12%
Sugar	5g	10%
Vitamin A	2390IU	48%
Vitamin C	16mg	18%
Calcium	183mg	18%
Iron	1mg	6%