Description
This creamy chicken pasta salad combines tender shredded chicken, macaroni pasta, crunchy vegetables, juicy pineapple, and cheddar cheese in a rich and tangy dressing. It is a refreshing and satisfying make-ahead dish perfect for lunches, gatherings, or meal prep.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast
8 oz macaroni pasta
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons condensed milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 carrot, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, diced
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the chicken breast in salted water until fully cooked. Shred the chicken and let it cool completely.
- Cook the macaroni pasta according to package instructions until tender. Drain, rinse with cold water, and cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, plain yogurt, condensed milk, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooled macaroni, shredded chicken, carrot, red bell pepper, celery, red onion, pineapple tidbits, and diced cheddar cheese to the bowl.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly coated with the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving for the best flavor.
Notes
Rotisserie chicken can be used instead of boiled chicken breast for extra convenience.
Rotini, shell, or bowtie pasta work well as substitutes for macaroni.
Add chopped cucumber, sweet corn, raisins, or extra pineapple for variation.
For a lighter version, replace some of the mayonnaise with additional plain yogurt.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Stir before serving if the dressing thickens after chilling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boil
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
