Pioneer Woman Chicken Pasta Salad Food

CURRIED CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil chicken to cook. Boil pasta in chicken broth. Dice/shred chicken. Drain pasta.Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, heavy cream, curry powder, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until well combined. Combine chicken, drained pasta, sliced celery, raisins, and almonds in a large bowl. Pour curry dressing over the top. Fold together with a rubber spatula. Make sure it's all combined, then add more of whatever it needs. Make sure the sweet/savory balance is right for you! (I like mine a little sweet.)Chill for several hours. Serve with juicy grapes on the side.

CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse chicken thoroughly and place in a large pot of water. Turn on the heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is done (about 45 minutes to an hour). When you are ready, remove the chicken from the pot and place on a plate. With your fingers or a fork, pull all of the meat off the bones, chop into bite-sized chunks and set aside.
• Chop all of your fruits and veggies and place them in a bowl with the chicken.
• In another bowl mix mayonnaise, yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, brown sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the dill (or oregano or cilantro...whatever makes your skirt fly up) and if you're feeling a bit brazen throw in a dash of cayenne pepper!
• When the dressing tastes just right (you must taste test for appropriate saltiness especially), pour it over the chicken/veggie/fruit mixture and stir gently until everything is thoroughly mixed. Stir in the almonds. If you are feeling naughty, add a sprinkling of bacon bits.
• Allow the salad to chill for several hours (or even overnight). Serve on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich or heck, eat it straight out of the bowl with a serving spoon. Try it soon-you'll love it!

PIONEER WOMAN CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Mix flour, salt, and pepper together on a large plate.
• Dredge flattened chicken breasts in flour mixture. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted and oil/butter mixture is hot, fry chicken breasts until nice and golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Remove chicken breasts from the skillet and keep warm.
• Without cleaning skillet, add onions and garlic and gently stir for 2 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape the bottom of the pan, getting all the flavorful bits off the bottom.
• Allow wine to cook down until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
• Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add sugar and more salt and pepper to taste.
• Allow to cook for 30 minutes.
• If you choose to have pasta, cook linguine, spaghetti, or whatever pasta you like until al dente.
• Toward the end of cooking time, add chopped parsley and give sauce a final stir.
• Carefully lay chicken breasts on top of the sauce and completely cover them in grated Parmesan.
• Place lid on skillet and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer until cheese is melted and chicken is thoroughly heated. Add more cheese to taste.
• Place cooked noodles on a plate and cover with sauce. Place chicken breast on top and sprinkle with more parsley. Or just place the chicken on a plate and dig in!
• Serve immediately & enjoy!

BASIC CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the roast chicken into small pieces and discard the skin and bones. Put the chicken, grapes, almonds, scallions and celery in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix the mayonnaise, yogurt, cream, dill, brown sugar and some salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Allow to chill for several hours or even overnight.
• Before serving, garnish with halved grapes and chopped dill. Serve on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Put the chicken in a roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until the juices run clear, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Let cool completely before using for chicken salad.

PIONEER WOMAN'S PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes.
• Time to start sautéing the veggies in batches, cooking only 1 or 2 minutes (at most) each.
• Add broccoli and carrots to onion & garlic. Cook only for a minute, then remove to separate plate. Add another tablespoon of butter to pan and add red pepper strips. Cook for one minute, then remove. Repeat with remaining veggies, being very careful not to overcook; veggies at this point should still be somewhat raw/crunchy.
• When all veggies have been removed and skillet is empty, pour ½ to 1 glass of dry white wine to pan.
• With whisk, begin to scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all the nice, flavorful bits from the bottom. Cooking over medium heat, add ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 cup whipping cream, and 1 cup half and half.
• Add ½ cup grated Parmesan. Stir together and cook until thick, adding salt & pepper to taste. Taste sauce as you go; don't oversalt, but don't undersalt either!
• Chiffonade fresh basil leaves, and stir into sauce. Now add all the veggies, including frozen peas, at once. Stir gently to combine; if sauce seems to thick, add equal parts half & half and chicken broth to thin. Cook over low heat until warm, just a couple of minutes. You don't want soggy veggies! Taste & check seasoning; add more salt & pepper if needed.
• Dump in al dente penne pasta, stir to combine thoroughly, and pour onto a large platter. Garnish with more basil leaves, throw on some more Parmesan, and gobble it up!

THE BEST MACARONI SALAD EVER

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
• Mix together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Splash in enough milk to make it pourable. Splash in pickle juice for extra flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Set aside.
• Place the cooled macaroni in a large bowl and pour in 3/4 of the dressing. Toss and add more dressing if you'd like. (The dressing will seem a little thin, but it will thicken up as the salad chills.)
• Stir in the roasted red peppers (or pimentos), olives, pickles, and green onions. Add more of any ingredient if you'd like more stuff going on! At the end, splash in a little more pickle juice and stir.
• Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sliced green onions to serve!

CURRIED CHICKEN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a pot of water.
• Season chicken and add to water to boil for 20-25 minutes (until done).
• Remove chicken from water and set on a plate to cool.
• Add and cook pasta in chicken broth.
• Drain pasta when fully cooked.
• Separate chicken from the bone & Dice/shred chicken.
• In a bowl, Mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, heavy cream, curry powder, sugar, salt, and pepper.
• Whisk together until well combined.
• Add chicken, drained pasta, sliced celery, raisins, shallots and almonds.
• Fold together with a rubber spatula.
• Make sure it's all combined, then add more of whatever it needs.
• Make sure the sweet/savory balance is right for you! (I like mine a little sweet.).
• Chill for several hours. Serve with juicy grapes on the side.

CREAMY HERBED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, basil, parsley, sour cream, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat until hot; brush with the oil. Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken, turning once, until well-marked and just cooked through, about 7 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Meanwhile, cook the broccoli in the boiling water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to a colander with a slotted spoon and run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add the broccoli to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool; add to the bowl.
• Add the chicken and red peppers to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

PIONEER WOMAN CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.
• Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.
• Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.
• With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!
• Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.
• Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

CHICKEN, BASIL AND TOMATO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, adding green beans the last 5 minutes of cooking; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again.
• Mix together the oil, vinegar, salt, garlic, mustard and pepper with a whisk until thoroughly combined.
• In a very large bowl toss together the pasta mixture, chicken cubes (if using), dressing, tomatoes, shredded cheese and olives. Cover and chill for 4-24 hours. Add basil and toss gently before serving. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.

PRIMAVERA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until no longer hot; set aside.
• To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, milk, sour cream, parsley, chives, mint, lemon zest and juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons Parmesan in a small bowl. Set aside. Before tossing, splash in more milk if needed for thinning.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, asparagus, carrots and leeks. Pour over the dressing and toss to coat. Top with the remaining tablespoon of Parmesan and some black pepper. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

PIONEER WOMAN'S AMBROSIA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F and position the rack in the center.
• Spread the pecans out on a small baking sheet and bake them until toasted and fragrant, about 6-8 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Move the pecans to a medium bowl and let them cool completely.
• With an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
• Add the sour cream and whisk until combined.
• Add the marshmallows, pineapple, and coconut, stirring to combine.
• Fold in the Mandarin oranges.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to overnight, covered with plastic wrap.
• When ready to serve, coarsely chop the pecans.
• Add the pecans and maraschino cherries to the ambrosia salad, and stir to combine.
• Place in a serving bowl and serve immediately.

CHICKEN FAJITA PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning over the chicken and toss to coat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy skillet over a high heat. When the butter has melted and the oil is hot, add half of the chicken in a single layer. Allow the chicken to brown, about 1 minute, before turning and cooking for an additional minute. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add the remaining chicken and repeat.
• Add the remaining tablespoon each butter and olive oil to the same skillet. When the butter has melted, add the garlic, peppers, onions and mushrooms, then cook, getting as much color on the vegetables as possible, for 1 minute. Remove the vegetables to a plate.
• With the skillet still over high heat, add the chicken stock and tequila to deglaze; allow to cook for a couple of minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, then sprinkle the remaining tablespoon fajita seasoning into the sauce. Stir in the cream and adobo sauce. Allow to cook, stirring, until the sauce begins to thicken, 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. (The sauce should have a good amount of heat to it.)
• Finally, add the chicken and vegetables back to the skillet. Add the pasta and the tomatoes, then toss to combine. Cook for a couple more minutes until everything is heated through. Top with the chopped cilantro and chow down.