Quick, Easy, and Delicious Chicken Macaroni Salad - Perfect for Any Occasion
This Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad recipe is quick to prepare, bursting with flavor, and perfect for any occasion.
It is loaded with leftover shredded chicken, crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs, and a creamy dressing made with mustard, mayo, and pesto.
Jump to:
- Cold Chicken Macaroni Salad for Any Occasion
- Why This Recipe Works?
- What Type of Chicken is Best for Macaroni Chicken Salad?
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Top Tips From the Chef
- What to Serve With Chicken Macaroni Salad?
- Optional Add-In Ideas
- Storage Instructions
- Recipe FAQs
- Related Recipes
- Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad
Whether you serve it as a side dish at family gatherings, potlucks, or for a quick weeknight meal, this cold Chicken Macaroni Salad is an absolute crowd-pleaser!
Cold Chicken Macaroni Salad for Any Occasion
Creating this pasta salad is a breeze, requiring minimal effort and fitting nicely within your budget.
Whether it's a casual gathering or a more formal occasion, a luscious chicken macaroni salad is a versatile choice.
No need to save it for a special occasion; whip it up for summer BBQs, potlucks, or holiday celebrations with this crowd-pleaser cold pasta salad.
Customize it with your favorite veggies, herbs, or even a sprinkle of crispy bacon to make it uniquely yours.
Why This Recipe Works?
- The combination of creamy dressing, savory chicken, and crisp vegetables creates a deliciously balanced flavor and a delightful texture contrast.
- You can make this recipe your own by adding extra veggies or adjusting the dressing ingredients.
- With simple steps and everyday ingredients, this recipe is perfect for cooks of any level.
- It's perfect for meal planning as you can prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
- The recipe uses basic ingredients, making it an affordable choice for those watching their budget.
- This creamy chicken macaroni salad is a great addition for the holiday season, celebrations, BBQs, busy weeknight dinners, or even as a late-night snack option.
What Type of Chicken is Best for Macaroni Chicken Salad?
The ideal choice for this cold pasta salad recipe is cooked and diced boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
These cuts offer a tender texture that pairs well with the creamy salad.
I also love using leftovers from roasts such as Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken, Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs, and Baked Chicken Leg Quarters, which works perfectly with this recipe.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Chicken - You can prepare shredded chicken using leftover cooked chicken meat, buy a rotisserie chicken, or cook it from scratch. Take a look at my Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Recipe with White Sauce for information on how to prepare shredded chicken for your salad.
- Macaroni pasta - Macaroni is the traditional option for this pasta salad. However, you can use any small pasta of your choice.
- Celery - It adds a delightful crunch and a refreshing taste to the salad. You can substitute it with grated carrots or diced cucumber.
- Red pepper - It adds sweetness, crunch, and color. You can use Romano peppers, red bell pepper, or any sweet peppers of your choice.
- Mayonnaise - Homemade mayonnaise provides the best flavor. However, you can also use a good-quality store-bought mayonnaise.
- Fresh herbs - Dill and flat-leaf parsley are my favorite herbs for this creamy pasta salad. You can also use other herbs like basil, chervils, chives, or coriander.
- Pesto - I recommend using my homemade Wild Garlic Pesto for this recipe but you can use any pesto you have in hand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This is a very easy recipe with a minimum of effort required.
However, you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results:
Cook the Macaroni
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a teaspoon of salt to the boiling water.
Add the macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
Drain the cooked macaroni and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
Prepare the Ingredients
Cut your cooked chicken into cubes or shred them into small pieces. Set it aside.
Wash, peel, and dice the celery sticks, and place them in a bowl.
Deseed the pepper and cut them into small cubes, add them to the diced celery.
Finely chop the herbs and proceed to build your pasta salad.
Build the Salad
In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked macaroni, diced celery, diced red pepper, chopped dill, and chopped flat-leaf parsley.
Add the salt, black pepper, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and pesto.
Gently toss all the ingredients until they are nicely combined.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
Top Tips From the Chef
- Cook the macaroni until it's firm to the bite, known as "al dente." Avoid overcooking, as it can lead to mushy pasta and impact the salad's texture.
- After cooking, rinse the macaroni under cold water to stop the cooking process and to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- If you're using freshly cooked chicken, make sure it's cooled before shredding.
- Use fresh dill and flat-leaf parsley for the best flavor and aroma. Chop them just before adding them to retain their freshness.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
- Feel free to customize the salad with additional ingredients like chopped nuts, diced pickles, or crispy bacon according to your preferences.
What to Serve With Chicken Macaroni Salad?
You can serve Chicken Macaroni Salad as a light dinner on its own.
This classic Macaroni Salad also pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes such as:
- Baked or grilled fish such as Mediterranean Baked Salmon or BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers.
- Wraps and rolls such as Grilled Cheese Burrito - Taco Bell Recipe or Tantuni.
- Kebab dishes such as Lamb Shish Kebab or Kuzu Tandir Kebab - Turkish Roasted Lamb.
Optional Add-In Ideas
- Grated cheddar, crumbled feta, or cubed mozzarella
- Chopped toasted almonds, pecans, or walnuts
- Finely chopped red onion or green onion
- Diced dill pickles or sweet pickles
- Chopped hard-boiled eggs
- Crumbled cooked bacon
Storage Instructions
Store any leftover Chicken Macaroni Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
However, for the best taste and texture, I recommend consuming it within the first 2 days.
This creamy macaroni salad is not suitable for freezing as mayonnaise-based dressings can separate and affect the texture.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use pasta shapes other than macaroni. Farfalle (bowtie), penne, or rotini are good alternatives.
Absolutely! You can use shredded turkey, ham, baked salmon, or even cooked bacon for a different flavor.
If you prefer, you can use Greek yogurt or a combination of yogurt and mayonnaise for a lighter option.
Related Recipes
For more delicious salad recipes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this quick and easy cold Chicken Macaroni Salad as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
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Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 400 g shredded chicken
- 400 g macaroni (uncooked)
- 2 sticks celery (diced)
- ½ red pepper (sweet Romano pepper) (diced)
- ½ cup fresh dill (chopped)
- ½ cup flat leaf parsley (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon wild garlic pesto
- 250 g mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Cooking the Macaroni
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add a pinch of salt to the boiling water.
- Add the macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Drain the cooked macaroni and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
Preparing the Ingredients
- Cut your cooked chicken into cubes or shred them into small pieces. Set it aside.
- Wash, peel and dice the celery sticks, place them in a bowl.
- Deseed the pepper and cut them into small cubes, add them to the diced celery. Set them aside.
- Finely chop the herbs and proceed building your pasta salad.
Building the Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked macaroni, diced celery, diced red pepper, chopped dill, and chopped flat leaf parsley.
- Add the salt, black pepper, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and pesto.
- Gently toss all the ingredients until they are nicely combined.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving.
Notes
- Cook the macaroni until it's firm to the bite, known as "al dente." Avoid overcooking, as it can lead to mushy pasta and impact the salad's texture.
- After cooking, rinse the macaroni under cold water to stop the cooking process and to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
- If you're using freshly cooked chicken, make sure it's cooled before shredding.
- Use fresh dill and flat leaf parsley for the best flavor and aroma. Chop them just before adding to retain their freshness.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.
- Feel free to customize the salad with additional ingredients like chopped nuts, diced pickles, or crispy bacon according to your preferences.
Nutrition
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