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.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Course: Lunch, Pasta, Salad meal
Cuisine: Western
Keyword: chicken pasta salad, creamy pasta salad
Servings: 10- 12
Calories: 548cal
Author: Nagi
Ingredients
500g / 1 lbmacaroni / elbow pasta(or other pasta of choice)
1tbspsalt(to cook pasta)
Pasta Salad:
3cupscooked chicken, shredded or finely chopped (Note 1)
150g / 5 ozbacon, chopped
2celery stalks, finely sliced
1red capsicum / bell pepper, finely diced
2green onions, finely sliced
2carrots(medium), shredded using standard box grater
2cupsshredded cheese (cheddar, tasty, Colby)
2avocados(small/medium), cut into bite size pieces (optional)
DRESSING:
1cupmayonnaise, whole egg best (Hellmann's, Best Foods, S&W or other whole egg mayonnaise)
1cupsour cream, full fat (low fat ok too)
3tbspcider vinegar
1tbspDijon mustard
4tspsugar
1 1/2tspgarlic powder
2tspsalt
1tsppepper
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
1. Cooked chicken - I just use store bought rotisserie chicken. You can also poach your own - use this foolproof poaching method.2. 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.3. No mayo dressing - use a Creamy Yogurt Dressing instead. My favourites for pasta salad are the Yogurt Ranch and Yogurt Potato Salad dressing.4. Storage - Keeps for 5 days in the fridge. Not suitable for freezing.5. Nutrition per serving.