How to make quick and easy macaroni salad with chicken!
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
If you’re a busy parent like me then you probably try to round up as many quick and easy recipes as you can get your hands on. Between work, school, sports practices, appointments, and whatever else comes up, we parents need all the help we can get, especially in the kitchen. One of my favorite versatile quick fix meals is my easy Macaroni Salad with Chicken!
This chicken macaroni salad is one of my favorites for so many reasons! It’s super easy and fast to make, it stores well, and it’s a very satisfying lunch or snack for me and my daughter! I especially like to make this macaroni dish as a snack for my daughter after 2-3 hours of intense skating practice on ice to help her build her energy back up.
Since this simple yet scrumptious dish is packed with protein, peas, and pasta, it’s the perfect snack to help kid athletes recoup after an intense practice! It also makes a satisfying lunch for those of us who work from home or take lunches to work or school. Even if you have to stick to a tight budget, this meal will fit in perfectly as it is totally budget-friendly!
From lunch to an after practice snack or just a quick fix dinner solution, you can’t go wrong with this delightful, protein-packed, chicken macaroni salad dish! Ready to see how it’s done? Then let’s get started! Here’s how I make Macaroni Salad with Chicken!
Easy Equipment
First, let me go over my short equipment list for this simple recipe. I don’t need very much to make this satisfying snack, just some common kitchen tools and utensils. Here are the tools I use to make macaroni salad with chicken:
Creamy Macaroni Salad Ingredients
Now let’s talk about ingredients. I don’t really use a lot here either, but the pasta salad dressing is homemade so there is a little bit to that, still not much though. As for the body of this pasta dish, I only use 4 yummy ingredients! Here are my favorite ingredients for macaroni salad with chicken:
Dressing:
- 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp Ground Pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Macaroni Salad:
- 16 oz Penne pasta– 1 box, cooked
- 16 oz Frozen peas– one 16 oz package, cooked
- 12.5 oz canned chicken breast– 1 can
- Or you can opt for Baked Chicken Breasts if you have the time.
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
How to Make Macaroni Salad with Chicken
Now let’s get to whipping this scrumptious dish together! This process won’t take very long at all, only about 20 minutes, and it’s really easy to do! Here’s how I make macaroni salad with chicken:
Making the Dressing:
- First, measure out all of the dressing ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons.
- Then, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium-sized glass mixing bowl.
- Lastly, combine the ingredients together with a blending whisk until everything is mixed well and the consistency is smooth and creamy.
Making Macaroni Salad with Chicken:
- First, measure out all of the cooked macaroni salad ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons. Dice the hard-boiled eggs.
- Add the cooked penne pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Then, add in the cooked peas, chicken breast, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Pour the salad dressing in the large bowl over the ingredients.
- Mix everything together with a silicone spatula until everything is completely combined.
- Finally, spoon the macaroni salad with chicken into serving bowls, serve, and enjoy!
- If desired, cover the bowl and set in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
Storing Macaroni Salad
To store macaroni salad, first transfer the salad to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If stored macaroni isn’t creamy enough, add and mix in small amounts of mayo or milk until the desired creaminess is reached. Always label the date on the outside of the container to keep up with freshness.
Kids’ Lunchbox Recipes
Quick Fixes
Need all the help around the kitchen that you can get? I’m happy to help! I’ve got plenty of scrumptious, budget-friendly, quick, and easy recipes to help you keep the ball rolling, even in the middle of life’s chaos. Here are some of my favorite recipes, and some other ways you can serve this pasta dish:
This macaroni salad with chicken is perfect for:
- Packed lunches
- Snack for after sports or school
- Cook-outs
- Quick dinners
- Budget-friendly meals
More quick fix meals:
- Quick Chicken Alfredo
- One-Pot Pasta
- Split Pea Soup
- Homemade Tomato Soup
- Stuffed Peppers
- Stuffed Chili Peppers
- Packed Lunches for Kids
Macaroni Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1 ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp Ground Pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Salad
- 16 oz Penne pasta 1 box, cooked
- 16 oz Frozen peas one 16 oz package, cooked
- 12.5 oz Canned chicken breast 1 can
- 4 eggs hard-boiled eggs
Instructions
Making the Dressing
- First, measure out all of the dressing ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons.
- Then, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, sugar, pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a medium-sized glass mixing bowl.
- Lastly, combine the ingredients together with a blending whisk until everything is mixed well and the consistency is smooth and creamy.
Making Macaroni Salad with Chicken
- First, measure out all of the cooked macaroni salad ingredients with the measuring cup and spoons. Dice the hard-boiled eggs.
- Add the cooked penne pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Then, add in the cooked peas, chicken breast, and hard-boiled eggs.
- Pour the salad dressing in the large bowl over the ingredients.
- Mix everything together with a silicone spatula until everything is completely combined.
- Finally, spoon the macaroni salad with chicken into serving bowls, serve, and enjoy!If desired, cover the bowl and set in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Leave a Reply