Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry

Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry is a simple and filling dish that works well for lunch or dinner. It combines tender pieces of chicken with a creamy and mildly spiced sauce. You can make it in advance and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to eat. It is a great option for picnics or quick weekday meals.
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Why prepare pasta salad with chicken and curry

This Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry is very easy to prepare with basic pantry ingredients. The curry flavour adds a nice warmth without being too spicy for children. You can easily adapt the vegetables based on what you have in your kitchen. It stays fresh for several days making it perfect for meal prep.

Step by step: pasta salad with chicken and curry

Step 1
Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and add the dried pasta. Cook it following the instructions on the packet until it is tender. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain thoroughly so the salad does not become watery.
Step 2
Make the dressing: Take a large mixing bowl and add the greek yogurt and mayonnaise. Stir in the curry powder and honey until the mixture is smooth and yellow. Season the dressing with a little salt and black pepper to taste. Ensure the curry powder is well distributed throughout the creamy base.
Step 3
Prepare the ingredients: Cut the cooked chicken breast into small bite sized pieces. Dice the red pepper and slice the spring onions into thin rounds. Add the chicken and chopped vegetables to the bowl with the curry dressing. Mix them gently to coat everything in the sauce.
Step 4
Combine and serve: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the other ingredients. Stir your Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry well so every piece of pasta is covered. You can serve it immediately or put it in the fridge for an hour to let the flavours develop. Store any leftovers in a sealed container.

The best tips for pasta salad with chicken and curry

Using leftover roasted chicken is a great way to save time when making Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry. If the dressing feels too thick you can add a small splash of milk or water to loosen it. Make sure the pasta is completely cold before mixing it with the mayonnaise and yogurt. This prevents the sauce from melting or becoming oily. You can add raisins or diced apple if you prefer a slightly sweeter taste in your salad.

The curry powder can vary in strength so start with a smaller amount if you are sensitive to spice. Fresh coriander also goes very well as a garnish if you have some available. It is best to store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge to keep the chicken moist. You can use any pasta shape like bows or spirals as they hold the dressing well.

You may also like salmon nigiri, baked chicken thighs or brioche burger buns.

Ingredients

servings
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  • 250 g dried pasta
  • 300 g cooked chicken breast
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 3 spring onions
  • 150 g greek yogurt
  • 100 g mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Cooking time

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Nutrition information

NUTRITIONper serving
  • Energy:2406 kJ / 575 kcal
  • Fat:28 g
  • - of which saturates:5 g
  • Carbohydrates:48 g
  • - of which sugars:6 g
  • Protein:32 g
  • Fibre:3 g
  • Salt:650 mg

People also ask

You can store this Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry for up to three days in an airtight container. Keep it chilled at all times to ensure the chicken and mayonnaise stay fresh. The flavours often improve after a few hours of resting in the refrigerator.
Yes you can add various vegetables like peas sweetcorn or diced cucumber to your Pasta Salad with Chicken and Curry. Just make sure to chop them into small pieces so they mix well with the pasta. Avoid very watery vegetables if you plan to keep the salad for more than a day.
Short pasta shapes like fusilli or farfalle are the best choice for this recipe. These shapes have ridges and folds that help the creamy curry dressing stick to the pasta. Avoid using long noodles like spaghetti as they are harder to mix and eat in a cold salad.
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4.7 / 5 - (41 ratings)