Cashew Chicken Salad – a creamy chicken salad with pasta, grapes, cashews and more tossed in a delicious homemade dressing. It’s a great alternative to classic chicken Salad.
We all know chicken salad is hard to turn down, but add pasta and cashew, and it makes it even better!!
Chicken Salad with Pasta + Cashews
Whenever we go to parties, get togethers or baby showers, you’ll usually find at least one salad or pasta recipe, and we’re always trying them out so we can snag the recipe from whoever brought it.
This Cashew Chicken salad actually came from my sister-in-law’s mom. They served it at my brother’s wedding and it was a favorite. Everyone was asking for the recipe, so we had to jump in and ask too so we could make it at home as well. My mom has made it a few times since for events, and it’s always gone in no time so we know we’re not the only ones who love this chicken salad.
If you’re one to enjoy pasta salads as well, then I suggest giving this one a try. It’s hearty and has a delicious creamy dressing that you will love!
How to Make Cashew Chicken Salad
This recipe is too easy!
Mix cooked pasta, chopped celery, green onions, cubed chicken, and grapes together in a bowl.
Make the dressing and pour over the salad. Refrigerate for at least one hour and add cashews right before serving.
Change it up: Not only is this pasta salad tasty, but the mixture of the colors and textures make it a pretty salad as well. The salad is easily customizable too. Here are a few ideas for equally delicious and beautiful variations:
- Use Almonds
- Red onion
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Add raisins or craisins
- Switch up the pasta: penne, rotini (either white or tricolored), medium shell pasta. Really any pasta that has some type of groove so the dressing will cling to every bite.
Making Ahead + Storing
Make ahead of time: You can prepare this pasta salad a couple of hours before serving. Any longer and the pasta will begin to absorb the moisture and the salad will become dried out. If you want to prep the ingredients the day before, then I suggest storing them in separate containers and then mixing them all together before serving.
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
For more great recipes be sure to check out:
- Asian Pasta Salad
- Easy Pasta Salad
- Classic chicken salad
- Cheesecake Factory Luau Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
Cashew Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Pasta
- 3 cups pasta cooked
- 1/2 bunch celery chopped
- 1/2 bunch green onions sliced
- 3-4 chicken breasts cubed and cooked
- 1-2 cups grapes sliced in half
- 2 cups cashews
Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Mix all pasta ingredients together, except cashews.
- Combine sauce ingredients and poor over salad. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Add cashews just before serving.
I LOVE that this can be a side for pretty much any dish!
You’re right! And it’s perfect for parties and get togethers. 😉
Why does this say “uncooked” pasta?
I loved it! Fresh and surprising! I’ve shared your recipe with a link in my last post: a round-up of different ways of preparing cashew chicken. Hope you like it!
Patricia
I will check it out..thanks!
This tastes as good as it looks. I love chicken salad, so this twist with pasta and cashews hit the spot.
This has become of one my favorite pastas!! Had it at a reception & have craved it since!
I love the crunch and pasta. It is the perfect combo!
Thank you so much for this very delicious and tasty cashew chicken salad recipe! Will surely have this again. fam really loves it! Highly recommended!
This chicken salad is so good! It’s a favorite in our home. Only complaint is that we don’t make it enough.
This is a really delicious recipe. I love having it along side sandwiches and BBQs.