Cool, creamy, crunchy, and perfect for meal prep! This honey mustard pasta salad fits right into your summer plans for quick, easy meals.
Is it even summer if we haven’t had a pasta salad yet? Our stove broke back in May, and our new one was FINALLY delivered last week (appliance shortages, who knew???). The kids’ eyes were starting to twitch without pasta, so now it’s noodles for days.
This honey mustard pasta salad with chicken is your ticket to quick, easy meal prep. Just dish out a serving alongside some salty potato chips and chopped up fruit or veg, and you have yourself a delicious meal to eat on the patio or at your desk. Which is what I usually do this time of year, when our wedding photography business is at its peak and I’m chained to Photoshop. Ha!
The secret to this pasta salad is making sure you don’t overcook the noodles. Whether you’re using regular or gluten free pasta, always use the least amount of time recommended on your pasta package! Noodles will absorb extra liquid from the dressing in the fridge, so if you don’t want soggy salad, don’t overcook your noodles.
Make Honey Mustard Pasta Salad Allergy-Friendly for You!
As written, this pasta salad is dairy free, garlic and onion free, and nut free. Make it gluten free by using gluten-free pasta. Make it top 9 allergen free by using gluten-free pasta and safe mayonnaise and mustard. I’ve had trouble finding garlic and egg free mayonnaise, so if you know of a brand leave a comment and let me know!
The amount of honey in the dressing will depend on which mayonnaise you use. Our garlic free mayonnaise contains no sugar, so I need 2 Tbsp of honey in my dressing. But we’ve had sweeter mayonnaise in the past that only required 1 Tbsp. of honey. So decide what sweetness level works best for your ingredients!
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think in the comments! Share a photo of your creation on social media with the hashtag #coffeetableeats.
Honey Mustard Pasta Salad
Cool, creamy, crunchy, and fresh from the garden. This honey mustard pasta salad is quick to prepare and perfect for meal prep when cooking is the last thing on your mind!
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 1 (16 oz.) box elbow macaroni, gluten-free or regular
- 1 1/2 c. frozen peas
- 2 large ribs celery, finely diced
- 2 large carrots, finely diced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), finely diced
- 1 cooked chicken breast, finely diced
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 6 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp. whole grain mustard
- 1-2 Tbsp. honey
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions, using the least amount of time listed on the label. The pasta will absorb the dressing as it sits, so you want to start with VERY al dente pasta!
- While the noodles are cooking, place the frozen peas in a large mixing bowl. When the noodles are finished cooking, drain off the water and pour the noodles into the bowl with the peas. Stir to combine. The frozen peas will help cool the noodles more quickly.
- Add the celery, carrot, bell pepper, and chicken into the mixing bowl, and stir to combine. Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours, or until the noodles are cold.
- Combine all of the honey mustard dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar and whisk to combine. Pour over the noodle mixture and stir to combine. You can serve this salad immediately, or let it sit in the refrigerator overnight and serve the next day. This will keep well for 3-4 days, making it perfect for meal prep!
Notes
- This recipe is easily cut in half for a smaller quantity! You will use 8 oz of elbow macaroni, and half the vegetables and chicken. For the dressing you will need 3 Tbsp. mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp. whole grain mustard, 1/2-1 Tbsp. honey, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
- The amount of honey needed in the dressing depends on how sweet your mayonnaise is. Our garlic-free mayonnaise is not sweet at all, so I need more honey. But we've had other brands in the past that contain sugar, so the dressing needs less honey. Make the dressing to your taste!
- To make this recipe Top 9 allergen free, use gluten free noodles and allergy-safe mayonnaise and mustard.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 229mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 8gNutrition facts may vary based on the ingredients, swaps, and products used.