Simple Chicken Pasta Salad

Simple Chicken Pasta Salad recipe videos

Simple Chicken Pasta Salad is a popular, versatile cold dish made with cooked chicken, pasta, and a variety of fresh vegetables tossed in a light dressing. It typically features ingredients like rotisserie or grilled chicken, rotini or penne pasta, crisp celery, red onion, and sometimes peas or bell peppers, all bound by a creamy mayonnaise or vinaigrette base. This dish is a staple of American home cooking, particularly favored for picnics, potlucks, and easy weeknight meals.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This salad is a balanced meal, offering a good mix of protein from the chicken, carbohydrates from the pasta, and healthy fats from the dressing and any added ingredients like nuts or cheese. A typical serving provides key nutrients like B vitamins, selenium, and phosphorus, with a rough calorie ballpark of 350-450 kcal per serving, depending on the specific ingredients and dressing used.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	350 kcal
Protein	25 g
Carbs	30 g
Fat	15 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	480 mg
Potassium	350 mg
Phosphorus	280 mg
Vitamin B6	0.4 mg
Niacin (B3)	8 mg
Selenium	25 mcg
Vitamin C	8 mg
Calcium	60 mg
Iron	2 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, this dish represents the practicality and adaptability of American comfort food, often serving as a 'clean-out-the-fridge' recipe. Nutritionally, it's interesting because it can be easily customized to be lighter (using Greek yogurt instead of mayo) or more indulgent, making it a flexible template for balanced eating.