Chicken Chickpea Macaroni Salad

A refreshing and protein-packed macaroni salad combining tender chicken, chickpeas, and crunchy fresh vegetables, tossed in a light lemony dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner.

Steps

1. Cook the macaroni elbow pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
2. While pasta cooks, poach or grill the chicken breast until fully cooked, then let it cool and shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled macaroni, cooked chickpeas, diced cucumber, grated carrot, chopped lettuce, and shredded chicken.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
6. Chill for 10 minutes if desired, then garnish with fresh herbs if using before serving.