This Mango Chicken Pasta Salad is a fresh and different way to enjoyed cold pasta this summer. It is a little different but bursting with flavor!
Tender chunks of chicken, crisp bell peppers mixed with pasta, and then coated in a delicious mango dressing.
The dressing is easy to make in a blender or food processor, plus you can use fresh, frozen, canned mango or mango puree!
Chicken Pasta Salad with a Mango Dressing
This is such an easy summer pasta salad! Perfect for eating for dinner on a warm night, taking to work for lunch, or taking to potlucks, backyard parties, and gatherings.
It is straightforward to make and will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator.
It involves:
- cooked chicken
- cooked pasta
- chopped veggies
- an easy mango dressing
The Chicken
You can use any chicken you like for this recipe:
- Cook some fresh (try this easy poached chicken)
- Leftover chicken
- Rotisserie chicken
- Chopped cooked chicken from the chiller cabinet
The Pasta
As pasta cools, it will start to harden slightly (a process known as retrogradation), so it is essential to cook the pasta for a minute or so longer than you would for hot pasta dishes. I tend to add about 90 seconds to the cooking time. The pasta will seem overcooked, but it returns to the perfect texture when cooled until cold water.
Also, the chilled temperature that pasta salad is served at can dull the flavors. So add more salt than usual to your pasta cooking water.
Best pasta for pasta salad
The type of pasta you use does matter. Pick a pasta shape with plenty of nooks and crannies; this way, the sauce coats it thoroughly, and each mouthful will be covered in the dressing. Farfalle (bowtie), Penne, Fusilli, Rotini, and macaroni work well.
The veggies
I usually add salad onions, and red bell peppers to this mango chicken pasta salad, but these veggies also work well:
- Celery
- Peas
- Carrot
- Fresh Spinach
- Asparagus
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The mango dressing
This dressing is so easy to make! You add all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blitz it until you have a smooth sauce!
Plus, you can use fresh, frozen, canned, or pureed mango for this easy dressing!
The mango gets mixed with some lime juice, olive oil, salt, garlic, water and some fresh cilantro/coriander. You can add some optional red pepper flakes as well.
How long can you keep pasta salad for
You want to keep any leftovers refrigerated and use the salad within 3 to 4.
Enjoy x
If you try this Mango Chicken Pasta Salad, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I really appreciate it, and it helps others to know that the recipe is trustworthy.
Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.
If you love pasta salads then why not try there cold pasta options:
Get the Recipe
Mango Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 1½ cup mango diced (see note 1)
- 2 limes
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cilantro/coriander leaves roughly chopped
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
For the pasta salad
- ½ lb dried pasta (see note 2)
- 1 red bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- 2 cups chopped/shredded cooked chicken (see note 3)
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
To make the dressing
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender or small food processor and blitz to combine.1½ cup mango2 limes2 tablespoon olive oil¼ teaspoon salt1 teaspoon fresh cilantro/coriander leaves½ teaspoon minced garlic¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
To make the pasta salad
- Cook the pasta in well-salted water for 90 seconds more than the packet suggests.½ lb dried pasta
- Drain the pasta and cool it quickly under cold running water. Set to one side to drain thoroughly.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the dressing, stir through the chopped, bell pepper, green onion, and chicken.1 red bell pepper2 green onions2 cups chopped/shredded cooked chicken
- Taste and add salt, pepper, and extra red pepper flakes to taste.
Notes
- You can use fresh, frozen, canned, or pureed mango for this recipe; note that if you are using mango puree, you will only need ¾ cup.
- Pick a pasta shape with plenty of nooks and crannies; this way, the sauce coats it thoroughly, and each mouthful will be covered in the dressing. Farfalle (bowtie), Penne, Fusilli, Rotini, and macaroni work well.
- For the chopped cooked chicken:
- Cook some fresh (try this easy poached chicken)
- Leftover chicken
- Rotisserie chicken
- Chopped cooked chicken from the chiller cabinet
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Nancy says
Terrible dish! 🤢🤮
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
So sorry you didn't enjoy it 🙁
Cx
Chloe Darby says
FINALLY someone has posted a recipe of this delicious pasta salad! I've been buying it from my local shop for a couple years now and have never been able to figure out how to make it. Thank you!!!
TheRubberStudiosASMR says
Wonderful meal! My mouth is salivating just by looking at the picture. Can’t wait to try it for myself.