I crafted a Chicken Broccoli Pasta that pairs tender chicken breasts, rotini pasta and lightly steamed broccoli with crisp celery and sweet raisins. A blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and garlic creates a creamy dressing that harmonizes these flavors. I invite you to savor this unique medley simply.

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This Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad is a game changer! I first whipped it up on an ordinary day and ended up falling in love with the mix of flavors.

The seasoned chicken, cooked just right, pairs perfectly with tender rotini pasta and lightly steamed broccoli. I mixed in some diced celery and a surprisingly sweet kick from raisins, making every bite exciting and unexpected.

The creamy dressing, made with equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream, a squeeze of lemon juice and minced garlic, ties the whole dish together brilliantly with a zing that wakes up your tastebuds. I seasoned everything with salt and pepper to enhance each ingredient.

Trust me, if you’re a fan of chicken broccoli pasta recipes or even a simple pasta salad, then you gotta try this one out. It’s a fun twist on a classic that’ll have you coming back for more every time you make it.

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe because it just brings all the flavors together in a really cool way. I mean, the seasoned chicken mixed with the tender broccoli, sweet raisins and crunchy celery paired with this creamy dressing is just unbeatable. Here are a few reasons why I like it so much:

1. I love how the creamy dressing with lemon juice and garlic makes every bite pop with flavor and ties everything together.
2. I appreciate the mix of textures in the dish – the pasta is chewy, the chicken is juicy and the broccoli adds a nice crunchy touch.
3. I really like that the raisins give the salad a surprising hint of sweetness that balances the savory elements perfectly.
4. I enjoy how easy it is to whip this up, yet it tastes like something a fancy restaurant would serve, and the chill time makes all the flavors blend in a really awesome way.

Ingredients

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Chicken breasts gives you a good dose of lean protein thats great for muscle repair.
Pasta is a solid source of carbohydrates which helps fuel your day even when busy.
Broccoli is rich in vitamins and fiber that boost overall health and digestion.
Celery adds a crunchy texture with natural fiber and a refreshing, light taste.
Raisins bring a little natural sweetness along with iron and fiber benefits.
Mayonnaise and sour cream mix to create a creamy, tangy dressing that ties everything together.

Ingredient Quantities

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

8 oz pasta (rotini or penne work great)

2 cups broccoli florets, lightly steamed

3 celery stalks, diced

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

How to Make this

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1. Boil a pot of salted water and cook the pasta until it’s al dente then drain and set aside.

2. While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook them in a skillet over medium heat until they’re done, about 6-7 minutes per side.

3. Remove the chicken from the skillet, let it cool a bit, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.

4. Lightly steam the broccoli florets until they are bright green and tender, then cool them down.

5. Dice the celery stalks and mince the garlic.

6. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and minced garlic to make the creamy dressing.

7. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped chicken, steamed broccoli, diced celery, and raisins.

8. Pour the dressing over the salad and stir everything together until it’s all nicely coated.

9. Taste and add extra salt and pepper if needed.

10. Let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors blend well.

Equipment Needed

1. Large pot to boil the pasta and steam the broccoli
2. Colander to drain the pasta
3. Skillet to cook the chicken
4. Cutting board for chopping the chicken, celery, and mincing garlic
5. Chef’s knife for all the cutting tasks
6. Steamer basket for lightly steaming the broccoli
7. Mixing bowl for the creamy dressing
8. Large bowl to toss the pasta, chicken, broccoli, celery, and raisins together
9. Measuring cups and spoons to measure the ingredients
10. Spatula or tongs to flip the chicken in the skillet

FAQ

Question: How do I know when the chicken is done?

Answer: The chicken should be cooked through and no longer pink in the center. I usually cook them for about 6-7 minutes per side depending on thickness.

Question: Can I use a different type of pasta?

Answer: Yep, you can use any pasta you like. Rotini or penne are great, but feel free to experiment with others you have on hand.

Question: Do I really need to lightly steam the broccoli?

Answer: Yes, lightly steaming keeps the broccoli crisp and bright. Overcooking it would make it mushy and less enjoyable.

Question: Can I substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream?

Answer: Sure thing, Greek yogurt works fine if you want a bit of tang and a healthier twist. You might just wanna adjust seasonings a touch.

Question: Should I let the salad chill before serving?

Answer: Definitely, chilling it for at least an hour helps the flavours blend and makes it more refreshing.

Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Chicken breasts: You can swap out the chicken with turkey or even firm tofu if you’re looking for a plant-based twist
Pasta: Try using gluten-free pasta like chickpea or brown rice pasta, or even spiralized zucchini noodles if you want something lighter
Broccoli: Cauliflower florets make a great substitute for broccoli by adding a similar crunch
Celery: If you dont have celery, diced red or green bell peppers offer a sweeter crunch that works well
Sour cream: Greek yogurt is a tangy alternative that blends nicely into the dressing while adding some protein

Pro Tips

1. When you’re cookin the pasta, make sure you salt the water really well so it gets loaded with flavor and keep a small cup of that water aside. It can be great to mix into your dressing if it seems too thick later on

2. Give the chicken a good sear on medium heat and let it rest for a few minutes before you cut it up. This makes the meat super juicy and helps keep it from drying out

3. Don’t overcook the broccoli – you just want it bright green and a bit crunchy. Oversteaming it will ruin that nice texture that really complements the creamy dressing

4. Mix your mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, and garlic real well and then let it chill in the fridge for a bit before you toss it with everything. This wait lets the flavors kinda settle into each other and makes the salad way tastier

Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad Recipe

Recipe by Francis Mead

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

350

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large pot to boil the pasta and steam the broccoli
2. Colander to drain the pasta
3. Skillet to cook the chicken
4. Cutting board for chopping the chicken, celery, and mincing garlic
5. Chef’s knife for all the cutting tasks
6. Steamer basket for lightly steaming the broccoli
7. Mixing bowl for the creamy dressing
8. Large bowl to toss the pasta, chicken, broccoli, celery, and raisins together
9. Measuring cups and spoons to measure the ingredients
10. Spatula or tongs to flip the chicken in the skillet

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz pasta (rotini or penne work great)
2 cups broccoli florets, lightly steamed
3 celery stalks, diced
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Boil a pot of salted water and cook the pasta until it's al dente then drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and cook them in a skillet over medium heat until they're done, about 6-7 minutes per side.
Remove the chicken from the skillet, let it cool a bit, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Lightly steam the broccoli florets until they are bright green and tender, then cool them down.
Dice the celery stalks and mince the garlic.
In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and minced garlic to make the creamy dressing.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped chicken, steamed broccoli, diced celery, and raisins.
Pour the dressing over the salad and stir everything together until it's all nicely coated.
Taste and add extra salt and pepper if needed.
Let the salad chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors blend well.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.