I was recently at a BBQ party and wanted to take along a few easy to make pasta salads, but ones that were not going to cost me all of my points for the day 😉 you know those ones that claim to be a salad when in fact there is a whole tub of mayonnaise in there and you can pretty much say goodbye to all your daily points! I thought about 2 of my favorite pasta casserole dishes buffalo chicken pasta bake and chicken caesar pasta bake and decided to turn them into simple summer pasta salads.. Both of these salads, buffalo chicken pasta salad and chicken caesar pasta salad are really easy to make and sure to be a hit at your next party. Both salads are 3 smart points per 1/2 cup serving.. I have included a picture of the pasta I use and the nutritional info to compare.
Simple summer pasta salads
Ingredients
Chicken caesar pasta salad
- 1 box, 375g rotini pasta (or anyone you'd prefer)
- 3/4 cup reduced fat/calorie wise caesar dressing
- 6 oz cooked shredded chicken, 1.5 cups
- 1/2 cup croutons, lightly crushed
- 3 Tbsp finely grated parmesan cheese
- 6 slices low point center cut bacon, as an alternative you can use the bacon crumble sold in small packages
- Green onion, diced
Buffalo chicken pasta salad
- 1 box, 375g rotini pasta (or your preference)
- 1/3 cup light cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup reduced fat/calorie wise ranch dressing
- 6 oz cooked shredded chicken
- 1/3 cup franks hot sauce
- 1/2 cup reduced fat shredded cheese, I used a 3 cheese blend.
Instructions
- For both salads start by boiling your pasta by following directions on the box.
- Rinse under cool water
- For both salads you will just be adding all of your ingredients to your pasta and mix well. For the buffalo chicken make sure your cream cheese is soft so it will mix well.
- Store in fridge till you are ready to serve
- Chicken caesar makes 9 cups, 18- 1/2 cup servings
- Buffalo chicken makes 8 cups, 16- 1/2 cup servings
Notes
SP freestyle- blue & green-3 using WW recipe builder
Smart points- purple-1 using WW recipe builder
Points plus- 3 using PP calculator
Buffalo chicken pasta salad
SP freestyle- Blue & green-3 using WW recipe builder
Smart points- purple- 1 using WW recipe builder
Points plus- 3 using PP calculator
Nutritional info per serving
Chicken caesar ..Calories 117...Fat 3.2g... Sat fat 0.9g...Carbs 16.7g...Fiber 2.5g...Sugars 1.2g...Protein 5.9g
Buffalo chicken .. Calories 120...Fat 3.2g...Sat fat 0.8g... Carbs 17.2g... Fiber 2g...Sugars 1.3g..Protein 6.6g both using My Fitness Pal
Thanks for all the great recipes Kate. Everything I’ve made from your site has been delicious with a capital D. We loved your Buffalo Chicken Bubble Up so I can’t wait to try the Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad! Sounds tasty.
You are very welcome Dori 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words, so glad your loving the recipes 🙂
This sounds delicious! Any idea was the serving size is?
Serving size is mentioned in the post (if I am correct 1/2 cup I think) sorry I don’t have the recipe open in this tab
Have you tried the Buffalo Chicken pasta salad with your 0 smart points ranch dressing? How would it change the overall points?
No I have not but I am sure it would be tasty, I’m not sure on the points, it might bring it down to 2 but it would be best to build it in your App to see, I only know how I made it sorry
Definitely trying the Buffalo chicken pasta salad!!!
It’s so good, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Hi Kate: I absolutely love your recipes!!!!!!! Your website is amazing. I always look forward to your new series of good healthy recipes. Keep them coming!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Denise!