This post is sponsored by Maple Leaf Prime.
I hate to admit it, but it's almost time to go back to school. Actually, this will be the first time in years that I'm not going back to a physical school. I finished university several years ago, but I spent the last 3 years working in an after-school daycare. It's going to feel really strange to not step into a school in September...
I know that many other people are going back to school, though, in one capacity or another. My brother is still in university, I've got cousins who are in high school, and a few of my friends are teachers. This post is for everyone who has to start packing a lunch again in September (and for those of you who have to take lunch to work too!).
I love eating chicken pasta salad for lunch. It's a filling, well-balanced meal that doesn't take forever to make. And it actually tastes good cold! Someone once tried to convince me that cold pizza would be a great lunch idea, and I quickly discovered that I disagree with that statement. Pasta salad wins over cold pizza any day.
If you've been following my blog, you might already know that I love to cook with Maple Leaf Prime chicken. I love the way the chicken is packaged, and I know that I'm getting a great quality product. I cooked two chicken breasts specifically for this post, but normally I would just use leftover cooked chicken for this dish.
You might think that the salad in the top two images looks kind of bland, and to be fair, it kind of is. I was a very picky eater when I was younger, and I still prefer a relatively plain (but not tasteless) pasta salad recipe. You can definitely adapt this recipe to suit your tastes though, replacing the veggies I used with ones you prefer. And if you're really adventurous, you could even add some fruit in there. The photo below is my mom's chicken pasta salad of choice, which is really just my plain version with tomatoes, apples, parsley and bell pepper.
By the way, this recipe has cheese and mayonnaise in it, so you will need to pack an ice pack in your lunch bag!
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Pasta Salad for Picky Eaters
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Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- ½ cup frozen green peas
- ½ cup frozen corn
- 1 ½ teaspoon of your favourite seasoning blend
- 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, roughly chopped into ½ inch pieces
- ½ cup marbled cheese, cut into cubes
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or Vegenaise
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional Add-Ins:
- ½ cup apple, chopped into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon parsley, chopped into small pieces
- ¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
Instructions
- Add the pasta to a large pot of boiling salted water. Cook according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, defrost the frozen peas and corn in your microwave or on the stove, according to package directions. Drain when cooked.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain and run under cold water (this helps the pasta cool down).
- While the pasta is cooling, add the olive oil and seasoning blend to a small bowl and set aside.
- Put the cooled pasta into a large bowl and add the vegetables (and/or optional add-ins), chopped chicken, cheese and mayonnaise. Add the seasoned oil and stir to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Please read the full blog post for all of my tips, variations, and recommendations for this recipe.
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on specific ingredients and brands used. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Private Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Let us know how it turned out in the comments!
To learn more about Maple Leaf Prime chicken, visit MapleLeafPrime.ca.
Disclosure:
This post is sponsored by Maple Leaf Prime.
All opinions are my own.
Tori says
Ooh, I may have to Weight Watch-ify this and try it out next week... looks delicious, AND filling! And full of tasty veggies!
Shareba Abdul says
Thanks Tori! Let me know how it turns out for you 🙂
Kristy @ She Eats says
I'm with ya Shareba - I've been out of school for 3 years now and I still think "Oh it's September! Must buy notebooks!" hahahaha.... I might go back for my masters degree just to satiate that urge 😉
Your pasta salad looks great!
Shareba Abdul says
I miss buying school supplies! Maybe that's why I was working in childcare haha!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Teresa says
A 'picky-eater' salad is perfect for back to school. So many parents are looking for recipes to suit their own picky eaters!
Shareba Abdul says
Thanks Teresa! I was worried that people would look at this and go... "what???"
Kim Beaulieu says
I absolutely love Maple Leaf Prime Chicken so I must try this. There is nothing quite like a pasta salad, especially as school is going to start back up. It's quick and easy, plus this one has high quality ingredients so it's an added bonus.
So nice to meet another Canuck. And I saw your tweet about going to fan expo, we were suppose to go but can't make it up there. So if you see Norman Reedus could you stare at him longingly on my behalf. I'm sure he won't mind.
Shareba Abdul says
I missed Norman!!! But my friend went to his panel and said he was very entertaining 🙂