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Chicken macaroni salad in a white serving bowl.

Chicken Macaroni Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Vanessa | Maple + Mango
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 25 min
  • Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Chicken Macaroni Salad! It’s like the best of both worlds — creamy pasta salad meets chicken salad. Super easy to make and a delicious way to use up leftover or rotisserie chicken. Perfect for lunch, a quick weeknight dinner, or bringing to your next BBQ or picnic!


Ingredients

Scale

For the salad:

  • 1 pound uncooked macaroni (454 g)
  • 3 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken (approx. 2 large chicken breasts)
  • ½ cup grated carrots
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • ½ cup finely chopped sweet onion or sliced green onions
  • Optional: ¼ cup chopped fresh herbs (e.g. chives and parsley)

For the dressing:


Instructions

  1. Cook macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package directions.  Drain and immediately rinse under cold water until the pasta is cooled.  Drain well and set aside.
  2. Make dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until smooth.
  3. Combine:  Place the cooked and cooled macaroni in a large mixing bowl along with the remaining salad ingredients.  Pour over the dressing and toss to combine.  Adjust seasonings to taste and serve immediately or refrigerate for at least an hour first to help the flavors meld together.

Notes

  • Chicken:Any type of cooked chicken works (roasted, poached, grilled, etc.). This salad is a fantastic way to use up leftover cooked chicken or grab a rotisserie chicken from the store to keep things easy.
  • Bouillon powder: I like to use this delicious homemade bouillon powder.  It’s a staple in my spice drawer and adds amazing flavor to this salad.
  • Macaroni: You can swap the macaroni out for any short cut pasta you like (e.g. farfalle, orecchiette, cavatappi, rotini, etc.)
  • Storage: Keeps in the fridge for up to 3-4 days stored in an airtight container.  Don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.