Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad
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Looking for a new pasta salad recipe? This Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad is loaded with cashews, grapes, chicken, pasta and dried cranberries. It’s covered in a ranch dressing and is packed with flavor. It’s perfect for your summer potlucks, BBQs and parties!
The BEST Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy pasta salad would be the perfect 4th of July side dish! Really, it’s perfect any time, all year round. Trust me, I make it all the time. Any gathering and I’ll volunteer to bring the side dish and this is my go to winner!
I made this last weekend for Kinzee’s baptism. I needed two different salads to make and this was one of them and the other was my Strawberry Tapioca Salad. I love the juicy grapes in it and crunchy cashews.
We served this Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad with my famous Sweet ‘n’ Sour Meatballs and they were a hit like usual. If you haven’t checked out this recipe you must!
If you are looking for a delicious pasta salad recipe that’s a little different than the norm you guys have to try this! This recipe for chicken pasta salad with grapes is loaded with so many amazing flavors from the chicken, grapes, cranberries and cashews. It is going to become your new favorite pasta salad recipe!
What do I need to make Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad?
While this is just a snippet of what the ingredients are, it shows you that there aren’t that many that you’ll need. The entire recipe can be viewed below!
- Rotini
- Cooked chicken
- Green Grapes
- Red Grapes
- Dried Cranberries
- Ranch Salad Dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Salted Cashews
Steps to Prepare
- Cook Pasta – Prepare the rotini according the package directions, drain and rinse pasta in cold water
- Mix Pasta Salad – In a large bowl combine chicken, grapes and cranberries. Add in pasta.
- Prepare dressing – In a mixing bowl whisk together ranch dressing and mayonnaise. Pour over pasta salad
- Refrigerate – Chill for at least one hour before serving.
- Add Cashews – Right before serving stir in cashews
Why do I need to rinse my cooked pasta?
You will want to rinse the rotini after you prepare it for this Cashew Chicken Rotini Pasta salad to cool the temperature of the pasta down. It also helps keep the pasta loose for the pasta salad.
Can you make pasta salad the night before?
You can make this pasta salad the night before but some of the dressing will get soaked up into it. If you make it the night before you might need to add a little bit more dressing the next day if you want too! Another quick tip is to toss your pasta in a little olive oil after you rinse it to help it from sticking and prevent it from soaking as much of the dressing up if you prepare it a day ahead.
How to store leftover pasta salad
Store your leftover pasta salad in an air tight container in the fridge or freezer.
How long does pasta salad last?
If you store your pasta salad properly in the fridge it will last 3-5 days.
More Pasta Salad Recipes!
- Pepperoni Cold Pasta Salad
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Looking for a traditional pasta salad. This Macaroni Salad is just like Mom made!
Pair it with….
- Grilling out? BBQ Chicken Marinade is the BEST out there!
- Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks perfect for an easy dinner they are finger licking good!
- Barbecue Ribs are packed with flavor and the perfect dinner.
- Instant Pot French Onion Meatloaf is like no other meatloaf. Tons of flavor and a fun twist!
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:
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Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz rotini
- 4 c. cubed cooked chicken
- 1 c. seedless green grapes halved
- 1 c. seedless red grapes halved
- 5 oz dried cranberries
- 1 c. ranch salad dressing
- 3/4 c. mayonnaise
- 2 c. salted cashews
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to packaged directions. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water.
- In a large bowl combine chicken, grapes and cranberries. Add pasta.
- In a small bowl, whisk ranch dressing and mayonnaise. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
- Just before serving stir in cashews.
Tips
Video
Nutrition Information
Anita Evans says
So, you have to cook the chicken in order to cut it up for the salad. I would imagine that you use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. How do you cook the chicken?
Julie Evink says
I boil it in water and then shred it. Yes I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Betsy says
Looks yummyand great for summer get togethers.
Julie Evink says
Perfect for summer!
Kathryn H Hildreth says
THE SALAD HAS CHICKEN IN IT …. SO HOW LONG WILL IT KEEP GOOD FOR ?? (MY GUESS 4 DAYS) …
Julie Evink says
I would advice 3-4 days.
Kath says
I love this! Have also made this with rice-a-roni
w/o the flavor packet
Julie Evink says
Oh that’s a great way to twist it!
Dawn says
If buying ranch dressing at the store, which brand do you use to make this recipe ? just curious if anyone had preferred any specific brand of ranch that tasted best with this recipe?
Julie Evink says
I use Hidden Valley ranch mix!
Julana says
Do you mix the pouch of ranch seasoning with the mayo? Or do you make the packet of ranch with mayo and then use more mayo.
Julie Evink says
Mix with the mayo it calls for in the recipe.
Candace says
This salad is so good especially when made with homemade ranch dressing!
Julie Evink says
I bet! Great idea!
Toni says
It’d e nice to know what a serving size is.
Dianna says
I have been making this salad for a couple of years now and it our go to favorite for spring and summer occasions. Make as directed… the ranch dressing does not stand out if you don’t like it. Look for Cashews on sale at Costco, Sam’s club or Wal-Mart… Make sure not to add the cashew until right before serving so they don’t get soft. yes, some what expensive but worth it! Thanks for this family favorite!
Julie Evink says
It is totally worth it! One of our family favorites too!
Ellen says
Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad comments:
Very pricey salad! Are you sure it needs 2 cups of cashews…that is a lot…about $8.00 just for the cashews. Then, the chicken, grapes, cranberries are also pricey. After making it, I decided that 2/3 cup of cashews is adequate, and to make it better, cut back a bit on the pasta and added 1/3 cup sour cream. Though it is pricey to make AND used up many pots and pans and strainers/drainers, it looks good, but actually isn’t very flavorful.
Susie says
It might not have flavor anymore because you didn’t follow her recipe with your substitutions. I wouldn’t blame the recipe because you didn’t make her cashew chicken rotini salad. I never understand why people say, I did this and I did that then complain about the recipe. It’s because you did this and that! Gee wiz, people..
Robyn says
LOL I agree with Susie….so many people comment on recipes that oh it was so good…or not so good..but they changed this or that or didn’t add the same ingredients….really??
Julie Evink says
My thoughts exactly 😉
Gerald says
It looked good but then I saw you put ranch salad dressing in it. I hate ranch. Why does every one think that every one loves ranch. If I every make that I will just put in the mayo with out the ranch.
Brittany says
My mom makes a chicken salad recipe that has all these ingredients but for the sauce she uses half mayo and half sourcream… its super yummy worth a try
Paula says
I have a pasta salad recipe that is almost exactly the same ingredients but uses coleslaw dressing and mayo for the sauce. You might try that if you don’t like ranch.
Julie Evink says
Great tip and idea! Thanks for sharing Paula!
Leslie says
Where is the sweet and sour meatball recipe? Can’t find it.
Julie Evink says
Here you go! https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/sweet-n-sour-meatballs/
Sandra smith says
Can this salad be frozen adding the cashews later when ready to eat?
Julie Evink says
No I would not recommend freezing this.
404 says
You made some good points there. I checked on the web to learn more
about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.
Chrissy says
This sounds yummy. Any idea on the calorie count?
Julie Evink says
Sorry I’m not sure Chrissy!
Sally says
It says 460 calories under Nutrition Facts, but does not state the serving size.
The Better Baker says
I’m not big on pasta dishes, but this one sounds soooo delicious! Love every single thing in it…may have to try it soon. Thanks so much for linking this up at Weekend Potluck! =)
SJerZGirl says
I do like the sound of this one! I’m wondering if Parmesan dressing might work equally well. Have you tried any other dressing?
Tami G says
Do you have a recipe for parmesan dressing? If so, would you email to me…if not, what brand do you use. Thank you in advance.