Chicken Pasta Salad

This quick salad recipe makes a great chicken pasta meal any time and with the easy menu planner, ingredient exchanges and additions listed below, you can make several quick meals from this easy salad recipe.



3-4 servings

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6 Ingredients Needed:

pasta – 3 cups cooked
(choose a small noodle like rotini, farfalle or macaroni)

store bought prepared roasted chicken – 2 cups roughly chopped

celery – 1/2 cup medium dice

baby spinach – 2 cups washed, dried and roughly chopped

Dijon mustard – 1 tbsp

fresh squeezed lemon juice – 2 tbsp

Make Ahead:
- Prepare pasta according to package directions and measure out 3 cups

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1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. You can either do this ahead of time or while you are preparing the rest of the salad.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, celery and spinach.

3. Either in a jar with a lid or a small bowl, combine the mustard and the lemon juice and mix until thoroughly combined.

4. Add the dressing to the salad ingredients and toss to combine. Let salad marinate for at least an hour in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to develop.

5. As you serve each salad you can squeeze on a little more lemon juice if desired.

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Quick Meals - Menu Planner:

Quick Meal Ideas:

** Serve this chicken pasta salad with warm garlic bread slices and a bowl of tomato soup.

** Pasta with Avocado and Oranges: Serve this quick pasta salad over slices of avocado and mandarin orange sections.

** You could also serve this flavorful pasta salad with grilled or roasted vegetables on the side.

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Use these easy ingredient exchanges to add variety to this great chicken pasta salad.

* Instead of Celery: try Chayote Squash, Cucumbers or Shredded Carrots

* Instead of Spinach: try Arugula, Bok Choy or Napa or Celery Cabbage

* Instead of Lemon Juice: try Lime Juice or Orange Juice

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These flavorful additions will add even more flavor to this quick pasta salad.

* Crispy Cooked Bacon

* Crumbled Blue Cheese

* Sliced Almonds

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