Cooler dinner
The cold, no-reheat dinner for the night it is too hot to want anything warm.
It is a muggy summer evening and your kid is sweaty, not freezing, and the last thing they want is hot food.
A chilled box of pasta salad pulled from the cooler is exactly right, forks already packed.
Ingredients
Start cooler chicken pasta salad boxes with the ingredients here and a clear about 25 minutes slot.
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup diced mozzarella or cheddar
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make It
With cooler chicken pasta salad boxes, the best prep is the part that makes later serving feel obvious.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini until tender, about 8 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until fully cool, then drain well again.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, and cheese.
- Pour in the Italian dressing and toss until everything is coated. Season with salt and pepper.
- Divide among 4 boxes and chill until you pack the cooler.
Pack It Cold and Tidy
Pasta salad has chicken and cheese in it, so it needs to ride cold the whole way to the field.
- Nestle the boxes against two ice packs in an insulated bag
- Keep cold food at 40F or below, and do not let it sit out longer than 2 hours
- If it is hot out, pack extra ice and keep the bag in the shade
What Stays Crisp (and What Gets Soggy)
Most of this travels great, but a couple of swaps keep it from going limp.
- Pack a little extra dressing on the side to refresh it before eating
- Use a tiny sauce cup when one kid wants more dressing and another needs the pasta to stay drier
- Add the cucumber and tomatoes the morning of so they stay firm
- Keep any crackers or bread out of the box so they do not soak up dressing
- Serve with: a clementine, a string cheese
Parent Tip
Rinsing the pasta cold stops it from cooking further and keeps the salad from turning gummy.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Add chickpeas
A handful boosts protein and makes the box more filling for older kids.
Swap in pesto dressing
Pesto thinned with a little oil gives a fresh, herby flavor.
Use bow-tie pasta
The shape holds dressing in its folds and looks fun in the box.
Make it Greek
Add olives, feta, and red onion for a tangy Mediterranean spin.
Keep the veggies on the side
Pack the pasta plain for the kid who picks tomatoes out anyway.
Plan The Next Step
Plan your cooler nights
Use the planner to mark the warm evenings that call for a cold box instead of a thermos.