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Nutritious Chicken Broccoli Salad Recipe

For all of the pasta lovers out there, we have a new recipe that combines the best of both worlds: pasta and a hearty, flavorful salad.

We are talking about the chicken broccoli salad, a fan favorite among Spanish recipes, that will satisfy your pasta cravings while offering a balanced and delicious meal.

Read this article and you will learn how to make this recipe step-by-step, with expert tips for storing, serving, and customizing the ingredients.

a pin with a Chicken Broccoli Salad on a plate

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Background of the Dish

chicken broccoli salad with cheese, tomatoes and olives on a white plate with a fork on the side

The chicken broccoli salad with pasta is a delicious dish that has 3 main components: chicken, pasta, and broccoli, which come together harmoniously in a blend of flavors and textures. 

Different from other Spanish salad recipes, this Andalusian dish features a creamy or tangy dressing made with mayonnaise and sour cream, instead of the classic olive oil mix.

Just like the creative chicken salad with tostadas or the popular chicken salad wraps, this dish takes a familiar concept and adds a unique twist, offering something new and exciting for those who enjoy experimenting with flavors and presentations.

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a pin with a closeup of a Chicken Broccoli Salad

Things You’ll Need for Chicken Broccoli Salad

To make one of the best chicken broccoli salad recipes you will need dry pasta (your favorite shape), chicken, broccoli, onion, garlic clove, mayonnaise, and sour cream as the main ingredients.

Luckily, you won’t need any fancy equipment or kitchen tools to prepare this recipe for broccoli chicken salad.

broccoli heads for the chicken broccoli salad

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 cups (170gr) broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup (90gr) cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups (250gr) dry pasta (penne, fusilli, macaroni, etc.)
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1/2 cup(120gr)  mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup (60gr) sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Salt and pepper

How to Make Chicken Broccoli Salad – Step by Step Guide

pan with oil for frying on a stove for preparing chicken broccoli salad
  1. To start with this chicken broccoli salad recipe, pat the chicken breasts dry and season them with salt and pepper. In a large pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. 
  1. Now add the chicken breasts and cook for about 8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Remove, let them cool, and cut into slices or bite-sized pieces.
  1. Then, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. During the final minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to blanch them.
  1. After that, drain the pasta and broccoli, then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  1. In the meantime, peel and chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
  1. In a small bowl mix mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, paprika, lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and pepper. This will be the dressing for the chicken and broccoli salad.
  1. Now it is time to assemble the broccoli and chicken salad. Grab a large bowl and mix the chicken, vegetables, and pasta. Pour the dressing and gently fold it in so that everything gets coated.
  1. After that, cover the bowl with a lid, plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag. Take the broccoli chicken salad to the fridge to cool down for up to 30 minutes.
  1. For the final step in this chicken and broccoli salad recipe, taste the dish and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve the chicken broccoli salad cold and enjoy.

Substitution of Ingredients

chicken broccoli salad with basil on top

If you are planning on making changes to the ingredients of the chicken broccoli salad, a great starting point is to draw inspiration from other Spanish salads recipes, and we will help you with that.

First, you can follow classics like the chicken potato salad or the chicken salad with carrots and add those vegetables to the dish to create a more robust and colorful salad.

Besides that, you can go for the classic Spanish-style salad dressing, which consists of olive oil and vinegar, instead of the creamy one for a lighter, more traditional flavor. 

If you don’t have time to prepare the chicken but you have leftovers from dishes like the fajita chicken salad or the crispy chicken salad then you can incorporate those into the mix.

Are you ready to try more Spanish salads? Then feel free to visit our recipes for Spanish potato salad with tuna, Spanish chicken salad, and apple salad with chicken.

Tips on Serving Chicken Broccoli Salad

chicken broccoli salad on a plate served with a glass of beer

The chicken broccoli salad can be served as an appetizer, main dish, or side dish, thanks to the balanced combination of hearty and light ingredients.

To take this easy broccoli salad with chicken to the next level, top it with crumbled feta cheese, grated parmesan, or manchego, as you would do with a pasta dish.

You can take inspiration from other dishes, such as adding crispy bits from a chicken bacon salad or the sweet and nutty elements from a cranberry chicken pecan salad, to create unique and flavorful toppings.

Apart from that, make sure to have some sort of bread or toast to serve the broccoli chicken pasta salad with, so that you can fully enjoy the creamy dressing and soak up any extra flavors from the salad. 

Can’t get enough of Spanish salads? Then explore more innovative ones such as the sweet pineapple chicken salad, the fresh chicken mango salad, and the flavorful hot chicken salad recipe.

How to Store Chicken Broccoli Salad

How to Store Chicken Broccoli Salad. An open fridge with various vegetables and fruits in plastic containers.

To store the broccoli salad with chicken, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Similar to other traditional Spanish salads, like the healthy chicken salad recipe or the summer salad with chicken, if you plan to store it for 2-3 days, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving.

This will maintain the chicken broccoli salad’s crispness and prevent it from becoming too soggy.

Other Spanish recipes that you can make and store for a couple of days are the timeless classic Spanish potato salad and the modern keto chicken salad recipe.

Recipe Card: Chicken Broccoli Salad

Yield: 4

Chicken Broccoli Salad Recipe

chicken broccoli salad on a plate served with a glass of beer

For all of the pasta lovers out there, we have a new recipe that combines the best of both worlds: pasta and a hearty, flavorful salad.

We are talking about the chicken broccoli salad, a fan favorite among Spanish recipes, that will satisfy your pasta cravings while offering a balanced and delicious meal.

Read this article and you will learn how to make this recipe step-by-step, with some expert tips for storing, serving, and customizing the ingredients.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 cups (170gr) broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup (90gr) cherry tomatoes
  • 2 cups (250gr) dry pasta (penne, fusilli, macaroni, etc.)
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 1/2 cup(120gr) mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup (60gr) sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season them with salt and pepper. In a large pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. 
  2. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 8 minutes per side, or until fully cooked. Remove, let them cool, and cut into slices or bite-sized pieces.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. During the final minutes of cooking add the broccoli florets to blanch them.
  4. Drain the pasta and broccoli, then rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  5. Meanwhile, peel and chop the onion. Peel and mince the garlic clove. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
  6. To prepare the chicken broccoli pasta salad dressing, grab a small bowl and mix mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, paprika, lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and pepper.
  7. In a large bowl assemble the ensalada de pollo by mixing the chicken, vegetables, and pasta. Pour the dressing and gently fold it in so that everything gets coated.
  8. Cover the Spanish salad bowl with a lid, plastic wrap or a clean plastic bag and take it to the fridge to cool for up to 30 minutes.
  9. To finish the broccoli chicken salad recipe, taste the dish and adjust the seasoning if needed. Serve the chicken broccoli salad cold and enjoy.

Notes

If you want this Spanish salad recipe to be spicier, then you can add cayenne powder, chili flakes, or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.

Some great toppings for this chicken salad with broccoli are chopped toasted nuts, shredded cheese, or freshly chopped herbs.

This chicken broccoli salad is meant to be served cold, but if you prefer it warm, you can simply skip the chilling step and serve it right after tossing everything together.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 464Total Fat 24.7gSaturated Fat 4.9gCholesterol 80mgSodium 265mgCarbohydrates 42.4gFiber 11.6gSugar 4.7gProtein 25g

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