Chicken Pasta Salad (Lunch-Box Pasta)
چکن پاستا سلاد (لنچ باکس پاستا)
Pasta salad is one of the most useful lunch-box recipes: it's made the night before, needs no reheating, and holds protein, carbohydrate and vegetables in one box. Short pasta shapes catch the creamy dressing, and the mix of chicken, sweet corn, cucumber and capsicum gives every forkful colour and crunch. A dressing of yogurt and a little mayonnaise keeps it light.
- ⏱ Total: 25 min
- Prep: 15 min
- Cook: 10 min
- Easy
- Serves 4
Method
Tap a step when it is done.
Cook the pasta in a of boiling salted water until just tender. Drain, rinse under cold water until cool, and drain very well.
Whisk the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, pepper, oregano and salt in a large bowl.
Add the pasta, chicken, corn, cucumber, capsicum and carrot and toss until everything is coated. Taste and adjust.
Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, or overnight. Stir before packing; add a spoon of yogurt if it has dried out.
Kitchen notes
Rinsing the cooked pasta stops it cooking and washes off starch, so the salad doesn't turn sticky.
Keeps 2 days in the fridge. In hot weather, pack with an ice pack; dressings with mayo and yogurt shouldn't sit warm for hours.
Vegetarian: replace the chicken with boiled chickpeas or cubes of paneer.
The lunch box that waits for you
Hot lunches are hard to pack for school: food goes cold and soggy, and most schools have no microwave. Pasta salad is designed to be eaten cold. Made the evening before, it’s waiting in the fridge in the morning, and the flavours are better for the overnight rest.
Balanced in one box
Pasta gives energy, chicken adds protein, and the vegetables add fibre, vitamins and crunch. A light dressing of yogurt with a little mayonnaise and lemon is creamy without being heavy. Add a piece of fruit and a drink and lunch is complete.
Keeping it safe
Dishes with mayonnaise, yogurt and chicken must be kept cool, especially in Pakistani summers. Pack the salad straight from the fridge, add a frozen ice pack or a frozen water bottle, and use an insulated lunch bag.
More lunch ideas
Rotate pasta salad with chicken mayo sandwiches, egg muffins and chicken pinwheels. See our school lunch box collection for a full list.
Questions people ask
Can I use leftover chicken?
Yes. Leftover grilled, tandoori or boiled chicken all work; remove skin and bones and cut it small.
Is it OK to eat at room temperature?
Yes, for a few hours in a cool lunch bag with an ice pack. Don't leave it in a hot car or sunny classroom.
Nutrition (estimate, per serving)
- Calories
- 360
- Protein
- 18 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
