This Copycat Hug-Hes Chicken Pasta Salad, is the BEST pasta salad you will ever try. It is so simple to make, inexpensive, and tastes delicious. It’s the perfect, light spring or summer dish.
Literally a pasta salad that I dream about, it is so dang good. I decided, I just need to figure out how to make this, because I could save some serious money.
That’s exactly what I did, and I have to say, this salad is spot on. I even like it better because it’s less expensive, and I can have the huge bowl of it, all to myself.
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
Chicken pasta salad is one of my favorite dishes to make for potlucks, picnics, or easy weeknight dinners It’s tasty, filling, and can be prepared ahead of time for quick meals on busy days After making this salad countless times for my family, I’ve perfected my easy chicken pasta salad recipe.
Why Chicken Pasta Salad is So Popular
There are several reasons why chicken pasta salad is such a crowd-pleasing dish:
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You can change the flavors and ingredients in a lot of different ways. For example, you can change the vegetables, pasta shape, dressing, etc.
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It’s budget-friendly – using rotisserie chicken and pantry staples keeps the cost low.
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It travels well for potlucks, parties and lunches on the go. The creamy dressing prevents the pasta from drying out.
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It can be served as a light meal or a filling side dish. The protein from the chicken makes it satisfying.
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It tastes great at room temperature or chilled, making it the perfect make-ahead meal.
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Kids and adults love pasta salads! The flavors and textures appeal to a wide range of palates.
Tips for Making the Best Chicken Pasta Salad
After testing various methods, I’ve settled on a way to make chicken pasta salad that results in the perfect texture and flavor every time. Here are my tips:
1. Cook the Pasta Correctly
If you don’t want your pasta to be mushy, cook it for one minute less than the package says to. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain well again. By stopping the cooking, the pasta won’t be too done when it’s mixed with the dressing.
2. Use Rotisserie Chicken
Avoid the trouble of cooking chicken by using rotisserie chicken that has been shred. It saves time and effort while adding delicious flavor. Plus you can use the bones for homemade stock!.
3. Toast the Nuts
Toasting nuts like slivered almonds or pecans deepens their flavor. It only takes 10 minutes in the oven, so be sure to add this step.
4. Make the Dressing in Advance
Whisk together the dressing up to a day ahead of time so all you have to do is toss and serve! My homemade dressing only requires 5 simple ingredients.
5. Chill Thoroughly Before Serving
Put the pasta salad in the fridge for at least two hours, or even overnight, after putting it together. This allows the flavors to meld together.
6. Save Some for Later!
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days, so make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week.
My Favorite Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Now that you know my tips and tricks, let’s get to the recipe! I’ve made this pasta salad for neighborhood cookouts, school potlucks, and easy lunches at home. It’s always a major hit. The colors are vibrant, the flavors are tangy and refreshing, and the ingredients are simple.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 cup halved red grapes
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt, pepper, dill to taste
Directions:
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Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
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In a large bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper.
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Add the cooked pasta, chicken, celery, grapes and almonds to the sauce. Toss until fully coated.
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Taste and season further with salt, pepper or dill if desired. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
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Garnish with extra almonds and grapes when serving if you wish. Enjoy!
This chicken pasta salad is endlessly adaptable. Try swapping different add-ins like diced cucumber, shredded carrot or cherry tomatoes. Bottled Italian dressing can be used instead of homemade. Any small pasta shape like rotini, farfalle or wheels work nicely.
Enjoy More Delicious Pasta Recipes
Want to add more veggies to your meals? Browse our comprehensive list of salad recipes.
How to Make Copycat Hug-Hes Chicken Pasta Salad
- Put the pasta, broccoli, carrots, kidney beans, and chicken in a large bowl. Mix until fully combined.
- Mix the sugar, oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce together in a smaller bowl using a whisk.
- Pour the dressing mixture over the pasta mixture, and toss.
- Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. We like the dressing to soak into the pasta and vegetables, making them taste less like vegetables and more like the dressing.
- Serve cold.
Want to add a little more spice? In this recipe, the Tabasco sauce just adds a small kick of flavor, not so much heat or spice. You could easily add more hot sauce, and make it more spicy with red pepper flakes.
You could use any kind of pasta you have on hand, but we suggest something that is easier to stab with a fork, like penne or linguine. There are other kinds of pasta that would also work well in this recipe, such as fusilli, rigatoni, penne, shells, or macaroni. You can also add any vegetables to this recipe.
The starch in the hot water, is what helps your sauce stick to your pasta. However, for cold dishes, you don’t want your pasta sticking together, or have the sauce fully absorbed. That’s why when you make cold pasta dishes, you will want to rinse your noodles in cold water, but not when you make hot pasta dishes.
I usually blend my chicken in my blender or food processor. I just push the pulse button a few times and within about 10 seconds, all my chicken is shredded. If you want to mix by hand, you could, but I prefer to use a blender because it keeps everything in and the chicken doesn’t fly around.
Chicken Pasta Salad, The best Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe,
FAQ
What are the ingredients of pasta salad?
Ingredients1 (16 ounce) package uncooked rotini pasta. 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing. 2 medium cucumbers, chopped. 6 medium tomatoes, chopped. 1 bunch green onions, chopped. 4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese. 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning.
What are the ingredients of chicken salad?
Chicken salad typically contains cooked chicken, mayonnaise (or a similar creamy dressing), celery, and onion.
Do you cook pasta before making pasta salad?
Yes, pasta for pasta salad must be cooked before it can be incorporated into the salad. It’s important to cook the pasta to an “al dente” or slightly firm texture, and then cool it down before adding other ingredients.
What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad?