Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup boiled rotini pasta
• 1 small cucumber (thinly sliced)
• 6.5 cherry tomatoes (diced; source states 6–7)
• 0.5 small red onion (sliced)
• 0.5 cup sweet corn
• 1 cup lettuce (diced)
• 9.5 Kalamata olives (sliced; source states 9–10)
• 0.5 cup sweet bell peppers (sliced)
• 1 lb boneless chicken breast (cubed)
• salt (to taste, for seasoning the chicken)
• 1 tsp black pepper (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp onion powder (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (for the chicken)
• 1 tsp red chili flakes (for the chicken)
• oil (for cooking the chicken)
• 3 tbsp Hellmann’s mayonnaise (for the dressing)
• 0.5 cup reserved pasta water (reserved from boiling the pasta)
• 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce (for the dressing)
• salt (to taste, for the dressing)
• 1 tsp black pepper (for the dressing)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (for the dressing)
• 1 tsp red chili powder (for the dressing)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (for the dressing)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (for the dressing)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (for the dressing)

Steps

1. 1

   Boil the rotini according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water for the dressing.

2. 2

   Place the cubed chicken breast in a mixing bowl. Add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, and red chili flakes, then mix well so the chicken is evenly seasoned.

3. 3

   Heat a pan and add oil for cooking.

4. 4

   Add the seasoned chicken to the pan and cook for 12–15 minutes, or until fully cooked.

5. 5

   In a bowl, add the mayonnaise, reserved pasta water, sweet chili sauce, salt, black pepper, red chili powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, olive oil, and lemon juice.

6. 6

   Mix the dressing well until smooth.

7. 7

   In a large serving bowl, add the diced lettuce, boiled pasta, sliced cucumber, diced cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, sweet corn, sliced Kalamata olives, and sliced sweet bell peppers.

8. 8

   Place the cooked chicken on top of the assembled salad.

9. 9

   Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve.

Notes

The source does not specify a pasta quantity before boiling beyond 1 cup boiled pasta, and it does not specify the amount of cooking oil or salt. Chicken should be fully cooked before serving.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• salad
• pasta
• chicken
• creamy
• spicy
• American
• quick meal