Chicken Macaroni Pasta Salad
Looking for the perfect summer side dish? ☀️ This Chicken Macaroni Pasta Salad is creamy, flavorful, and loaded with tender chicken, making it ideal for BBQs, potlucks, picnics, and easy family meals.
Servings: 8
Calories: 421kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 3 cups elbow macaroni cooked and cooled
- 2 cups cooked chicken chopped (rotisserie chicken works great)
- ½ cup cooked bacon crumbles pre-cooked or freshly cooked
- ¾ cup dill pickles finely chopped
- ½ cup carrots finely diced or shredded
- ½ cup bell peppers finely diced (use a mix of red, yellow, and orange for color)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
For the Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until fully cooled. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni, chopped chicken, bacon crumbles, pickles, carrots, bell peppers, and parsley.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Stir gently before serving. Garnish with extra parsley and bacon if desired. Serve chilled.
Notes
Recipe Success Tips:
● Finely chop all ingredients so they are similar in size to the macaroni for the best texture and balanced bites.
● Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before mixing to prevent the dressing from becoming oily or separating.
● Add a splash of pickle juice to the dressing for an extra tangy boost if desired.
● Taste and adjust seasoning after chilling, as flavors develop more once the salad rests.
● If making ahead, reserve a small amount of dressing to stir in before serving to refresh the t
● Finely chop all ingredients so they are similar in size to the macaroni for the best texture and balanced bites.
● Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before mixing to prevent the dressing from becoming oily or separating.
● Add a splash of pickle juice to the dressing for an extra tangy boost if desired.
● Taste and adjust seasoning after chilling, as flavors develop more once the salad rests.
● If making ahead, reserve a small amount of dressing to stir in before serving to refresh the t
Nutrition
Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 446mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1885IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg