Are you looking for an easy main dish pasta salad that is not only quick to prepare but also makes a colorful presentation? This pasta salad features dried cranberries, chicken, pecans & mandarin orange slices!
WELCOME TO MIX IT UP MONDAY WITH MAD DASH MIXES
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WEEK 27
WHAT ARE WE MIXIN’ UP THIS WEEK?
I love an easy to make main dish pasta salad! This Cranbery pasta salad is great for a quick lunch. The mandarin orange slices, pecan pieces and the dried cranberries add just the right hint of color as well adding a delicious flavor to the pasta salad!
It would be perfect to serve if you are having a friend visit for the weekend. One of my best friends from Illinois was visiting this past weekend. I wanted to introduce her to the Mad Dash Mix line. This was one of the recipes I made.
Cranberry Pasta Salad
Cranberry Pasta Salad is one of the pasta salads that Mad Dash Mixes offers. They also have a Mediterranean Pasta Salad which is also very easy to make and delicious!
I met the folks from Mad Dash Mixes when I was at a convention in last summer. They have developed a number of tasty mixes ranging from dips to soups, salads & desserts. Their mixes can be found at www.MadDashMixes.com. By using the code farmhouse my readers can receive a 15% discount off of their order.
The Cranberry Pasta Salad comes with bow tie pasta and the seasoning packet that includes the dried cranberries. You will need to purchase a can of mandarin orange slices and a bag of pecan pieces. 2 cups of cooked chicken will also be needed to add to the salad.
I used already cooked chicken breasts that I cut into small cubes. Canned chicken could be used as well.
Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise with the seasoning packet. Add the chicken to the mayonnaise/seasoning packet and blend well.
Add the orange slices and then add this to the cooked bow tie pasta. Chill for 1 hour.
Before Nuts were Added
After the pasta salad has chilled, you are ready to serve it. If you don’t want to add the pecans, you don’t have to!
After the Pecans are Sprinkled on Top
The nuts are sprinkled on top right before serving! The pecan pieces add color and great taste to the salad.
Pecan Topped Cranberry Pasta Salad
Equipment
- dutch oven
- spatula
- glass measuring cup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 15 oz can of Mandarin oranges
- 2 cups cooked, cubed chicken
- 1 cup pecan pieces
- 1 Cranberry Pasta Salad Mix by Mad Dash Mixes
Instructions
- Boil the bow tie pasta for 7 to 9 min. Drain and rinse pasta
- Add mayonnaise to the seasoning packet
- Add chicken & oranges, stir well.
- Add chicken/orange mixture to the bow tie pasta.
- Chill for at least 1 hour
- spoon pasta salad onto serving plates and top with pecan pieces
Notes
COOKING WITH KIM
Disclosure: this post was written in collaboration with Mad Dash Mixes
All opinions are my own.
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