Chicken and Cashew Pasta Salad

Submitted by Chef #1365024

"Perfectly easy, absolutely delicious, one-dish meal! Stock your pantry with premium canned chicken breast as a convenient way to combine its lean protein with a colorful and healthful array of vegetables and pasta."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 cups pasta (enriched or whole wheat rotini, short spirals)
• 1 cup pea pods, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 2 (10 ounce) cans chicken, premium chunk breast of chicken in water, drained and flaked
• 1 (5 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained
• 1⁄2 small red bell pepper, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1⁄2 cup red onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup carrot, shredded
• 2⁄3 cup mayonnaise (light) or 2/3 cup salad dressing
• 1⁄3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup cashews, roasted, unsalted

directions

1. Preparation Time: Approximately 20 minutes.
2. Cook Time: Approximately 15 minutes.

3. Preparation:

4. Prepare pasta according to package directions, adding the pea pods during last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and cool pasta and pea pods.
5. In a large bowl, combine the pasta and pea pods with chicken, water chestnuts, bell pepper, red onion and carrots. Combine the mayonnaise, brown sugar, vinegar and salt, and toss with the salad.
6. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Just before serving, fold in cashews.