Description
This Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta Salad is a delightful combination of tender cooked chicken, fresh celery, sweet red grapes, and crunchy almonds tossed with cooked pasta and dressed in a creamy poppy seed mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch or potluck, this salad offers a refreshing balance of flavors and textures that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup red grapes, halved
- 1/4 cup almonds, sliced
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup poppy seed dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then rinse under cold water and let it cool completely to avoid a soggy salad.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, diced cooked chicken, chopped celery, halved red grapes, and sliced almonds. Stir gently to combine all the components evenly.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and poppy seed dressing until smooth and well combined.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients with the creamy dressing.
- Season: Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning as desired.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use rotini or bow-tie pasta which holds the dressing well.
- You can substitute almonds with walnuts or pecans for different nutty flavors.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To make this a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked and cooled before mixing to keep the salad fresh and safe to eat.
