Best 2 Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad With Or Without Chicken Recipes

Indulge in a refreshing and vibrant culinary journey with our Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad recipe, a delightful dish that tantalizes your taste buds with its burst of flavors. This versatile salad can be enjoyed as a light lunch, a flavorful side dish, or even as a main course when paired with grilled chicken. With its zesty blend of cilantro, lime, and a touch of chili, this pasta salad is sure to leave you craving for more.

But that's not all! We've also included a vegetarian version of this tantalizing salad, catering to those with dietary preferences or allergies. Our detailed instructions guide you through the process of creating both the classic and vegetarian versions, ensuring a delicious and satisfying experience for everyone. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and embark on a culinary adventure with our Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad recipe.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CILANTRO-LIME PASTA SALAD (WITH OR WITHOUT CHICKEN)

Cilantro-Lime Pasta Salad (With or Without Chicken) image

Loaded with chunks of avocado and mango, this beautiful dish makes an excellent summer meal. But there's no need to limit it to one season because it's delicious year-round! The bright, refreshing flavors taste great hot or cold too, making this an excellent brown-bag lunch recipe. If going veggie simply omit the chicken, you'll get fewer servings without it (just so you know).

Provided by Annacia

Categories Chicken

Time 31m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

4 ounces dried whole wheat rotini pasta
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 lb skinless chicken breast half
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup finely chopped red onion (1 large)
1 medium mango, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium avocado, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup chopped yellow sweet pepper (1 medium)
3/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper (1 medium)
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional)
lime wedge

Steps:

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
Meanwhile, for dressing, in a blender combine lime juice, cilantro, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Cover and blend about 30 seconds or until well mixed. Set aside.
Lightly coat the rack of an indoor electric grill with cooking spray. Preheat grill. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Place chicken on grill rack. If using a grill with a cover, close lid. Grill until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F). (For a covered grill, allow about 6 minutes. For an uncovered grill, allow 12 to 15 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling.) Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
In a large bowl combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, red onion, mango, avocado, sweet peppers, and jalapeno pepper. Pour dressing over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat. If desired, serve with lime wedges.

DELICIOUS CILANTRO CHICKEN SALAD

Delicious Cilantro Chicken Salad image

This delicious and tasty chicken salad is seasoned with fresh chopped cilantro, lime juice, and poultry seasoning.

Provided by matchin

Categories Salad

Time 1h25m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, or more to taste, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 teaspoon garlic powder, plus more to taste
kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch poultry seasoning, or more to taste
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup red onion, chopped
¼ cup slivered almonds, or to taste
3 tablespoons mayonnaise, or to taste
2 squeezes lime juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, or more to taste

Steps:

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add chicken. Season with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside and juices run clear, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl.
Add celery, red onion, and almonds to the bowl with the chicken. Toss in mayonnaise, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, and cilantro. Season with additional salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add additional mayonnaise if salad seems too dry.
Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 182.1 calories, Carbohydrate 3.2 g, Cholesterol 53.3 mg, Fat 9.7 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 19.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 98.1 mg, Sugar 1.2 g

Tips:

For the best flavor, use fresh cilantro and lime juice. If you don't have fresh cilantro, you can use 1/2 cup of dried cilantro.
If you are using chicken, be sure to cook it thoroughly before adding it to the salad. You can also use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken.
Add some chopped vegetables to the salad for extra nutrition and flavor. Good options include bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini.
Feel free to adjust the amount of lime juice and cilantro to taste. You can also add a pinch of chili powder or cumin for a little extra spice.
Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

This cilantro lime pasta salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck. It is also a great way to use up leftover chicken. With its bright flavors and simple ingredients, this salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.