Description
Tantalizing Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad delights with creamy dressing and zesty herbs. Crisp vegetables, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta create a refreshing meal you’ll crave all summer long.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 2 cups pasta shells
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast
Vegetables:
- 1.5 cups broccoli florets
- 0.5 cup red onion
- 0.25 cup green onions
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise
- 0.25 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)
Instructions
- Boil pasta shells in salted water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking process and cool pasta quickly.
- Steam broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender. Immediately transfer to ice water to preserve vibrant color and prevent overcooking.
- Dice cooked chicken breast into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure consistent texture throughout the salad.
- Finely chop red onion and green onions, creating a balanced aromatic base for the salad.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Add chopped fresh dill to the dressing, stirring to distribute herbs evenly and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Combine cooled pasta, chicken, broccoli, red onion, and green onions in the bowl with prepared dressing.
- Gently fold all ingredients together, ensuring each component is evenly coated with creamy dressing.
- Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop depth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding extra salt, pepper, or dill just before serving.
Notes
- Choose whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to accommodate different dietary needs and boost nutritional value.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust dressing consistency if the salad seems too dry after chilling.
- Quickly blanch broccoli to maintain its bright green color and crisp texture, preventing mushy vegetables.
- Swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-rich alternative that reduces overall calorie content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 368
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 564 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg