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Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe – A Great Side Dish!

Some of my favorite recipes that I use today have come from family members and this Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad is one of them.  When I’m on the hunt for a great side dish that will also fill the belly, this is my go-to!  I love that it’s adaptable and I can add extra veggies if I feel like it too.  The best part for me, though, is the fact that this recipe is EASY… because who has time to be in the kitchen all day!?

Cold Pasta!?

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized cold pasta salads could be yummy.  (Am I alone in this!?!)  I grew up eating casseroles and mac and cheese, both always served hot.  The ONLY pasta dish I had ever been served cold was an egg and pasta salad and to this day, I still don’t like it.  Many year ago, though, my aunt served up this Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe at a graduation party and I was hooked!

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!

The Ingredients

16 ounces pasta (any style)
1 can chicken
1/3 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
1/2-1 cup diced peppers (I like to use a variety of red, green, orange, and yellow for a blast of color.)
1 cup mayo (not Miracle Whip)
1 cup granulated sugar
dash of milk

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!

Directions

  1. Boil a pot of water and cook pasta according to pasta directions.  Be sure you don’t overcook as you don’t want mushy noodles.
  2. Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water.  Set aside.
    noodles - Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  3. Dice peppers and set aside.
    diced peppers - Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  4. Drain the chicken and shred.  Set aside.  (***PRO TIP:  Use your electric hand held beaters for this!  It’ll be shredded perfectly in just seconds.)
    shredded chicken - Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  5. In a small bowl, beat the may, sugar, and dash of milk until smooth.
    cream sauce - Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  6. In a separate bowl, gently stir together the pasta, drained chicken, frozen peas, diced peppers, shredded cheese, and creamy mixture.
    pasta salad - Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  7. Mix until everything is combined and fully coated in sauce.
    Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!
  8. Refrigerate for 1 hour (or more).  Keep chilled until served.
  9. Enjoy!

I love how this recipe can be adapted to personal preferences as well.  You can easily add additional vegetables to bulk it up.  Switch out the shredded cheese for chunks of block cheese for a heartier punch.  Add in mini pepperonis for an extra protein.  There’s so much you can do!

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

Print This Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!

Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!

This cold pasta salad is a great choice for picnics, family gatherings, and holidays! It's a sweet salad that kids and adults love.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Recipes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bbq, pasta salad, picnic
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 291kcal
Author: Mirande Welle

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces pasta any style
  • 1 can chicken
  • 1/3 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • 1/2-1 cup diced peppers I like to use a variety of red, green, orange, and yellow for a blast of color.
  • 1 cup mayo not Miracle Whip
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • dash of milk

Instructions

  • Boil a pot of water and cook pasta according to pasta directions.  Be sure you don't overcook as you don't want mushy noodles.
  • Drain and rinse the noodles with cold water.  Set aside.
  • Dice the peppers. Set aside.
  • Drain the chicken and shred.  Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, beat the mayo, sugar, and dash of milk until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, gently stir together the pasta, drained chicken, frozen peas, diced peppers, shredded cheese, and creamy mixture.
  • Mix until everything is combined and fully coated in sauce.
  • Refrigerate for 1 hour (or more).  Keep chilled until served.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

**You can alter this salad easily to your preferences and add additional veggies to bulk it up too.
**Great options to add include: broccoli, sliced carrots, and cauliflower.
**If you really love cheese, slice up a block of cheese in place of the shredded cheese for larger chunks.
**Add mini pepperonis for an additional protein source.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 199mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g
Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe - A Great Side Dish!

If you’re looking for some more meal inspiration, this salad pairs great with this Classic Cheesy Meatloaf Recipe.

So tell me, do you plan to give this Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe a try?

Recipe Rating




Lauryn R

Saturday 11th of February 2023

I love pasta salad and this one sounds delicious! I am definitely going to have to make it asap. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!