Dinner · Recipe #166
Rotisserie Chicken Pasta Salad
Microwave pasta, grocery store chicken and a bottle of Italian dressing. That's the whole trick. It makes dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow, and it honestly tastes better on day two.
- Protein
- 35 g
- Appliance
- Microwave
- Time
- 15 min
- Serves
- 2
- Keeps
- 3 days
- Cost
- $$
- Heat
- Mild
Steps
- 1
Put the pasta in your biggest microwave-safe bowl and cover with water by 1 inch. Add a pinch of salt.
- 2
Microwave uncovered for the package time plus 3 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes, until tender.
- 3
Drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
- 4
Toss with the chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, dressing and Italian seasoning.
- 5
Top with parmesan, salt and pepper. Eat half; refrigerate the rest.
Lazy tip
Microwave Pasta Rule: cover with water by 1 inch, microwave the package time plus 3 minutes, stir every 3. Use a huge bowl. Pasta water loves to boil over.
Two Remixes
Greek Pasta Salad
Swap in Greek dressing, feta and olives.
Ranch Pasta Salad
Use #342 Greek Yogurt Ranch and add bacon.
From the book
This is recipe #166 of 365.
The rest are in Barely Cooking, with four weekly meal plans, the $30 kit and a protein cheat sheet.
What you'll use
The $30 Dorm Kitchen Kit
Can opener
Half the protein in the book comes in a can. Get a smooth-edge one so lids don't slice your fingers.
See options on AmazonBig microwave-safe bowl (2 to 3 quarts)
For microwave pasta. Small bowls boil over every time.
See options on AmazonTwo big, wide mugs (16 oz)
Egg mugs, mug cakes and mug pizza all start here. Wide beats tall.
See options on AmazonMore dinner
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Steakhouse potato, dorm price. A russet goes soft and fluffy in seven minutes, then gets loaded with cheddar, bacon, Greek yogurt and chives. The yogurt and an extra scoop of cottage cheese turn a side dish into a 30-gram dinner.
