Chicken-Macaroni Salad

This Kicked-Up Chicken-Macaroni Salad recipe will impress your family and friends at your next picnic, BBQ or tailgate. This chicken macaroni salad pairs well with almost anything and will have your guests begging for more.

What is it that makes this Kicked-Up Chicken-Macaroni Salad recipe so perfect? Honestly, I think it’s a few special things.

The combination of jalapeno ranch dressing, fresh jalapenos and the Fritos. Yes, the Fritos are the glue that ties each delicious bite all together, not only in texture , but in flavor as well.

Think about bringing chicken macaroni salad to your next tailgate or picnic. This macaroni salad would also be perfect for any potluck or festive, fall party. And it’s going to be fabulous served right next to an avocado bacon burger, buffalo hot dogs or chile Colorado recipe.

Just remember, this is not your regular macaroni salad recipe, it’s a kicked-up version and has all the delicious flavor to back that up.

I like to grill my chicken the night before. I will make a big batch of grilled chicken quarters for dinner and save what I need for this recipe. Makes it easy!

Taco seasoning adds great flavor to the grilled chicken. Add extra pepper if you like.

Soaking the red onion in cold water removes some if its bite and makes the onion more pleasant when served raw in a cold salad like this.

Soaking for at least 15 minutes is ideal.

Above is what it looks like before mixing the chicken macaroni salad together .

This salad will be a hit at your next party. How could it not…there are Fritos involved.

If the salad has been refrigerated for more than a few hours, it may lose its creaminess.

Toss the macaroni salad with a little mayo or more jalapeno ranch dressing until it’s creamy again.

This Kicked-Up Chicken-Macaroni Salad really is the perfect side dish to so many fabulous entrees.

If you love trying different versions of macaroni salad, you need to also give my spicy horseradish macaroni salad and my rainbow macaroni salad a try.